Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (6.1994(1995))

OLD DONGOLA
THE FORTIFICATIONS, 1994
by Włodzimierz Godiewski
Investigations conducted in January and February 1994 on
Xbm A aimed at establishing the course taken by the northern line
of the Dongola fortifications9 Based on determinations made in
the course of the 1993 season, yet another tower was anticipated,
along the northern stretch of the walls between towers NW and
N.l, the distance from one to the other appearing to be too great.
Test pits served to determine the position of tower N.2, located
21.5 m away from tower N.l, and clearly much less well
preserved than the other towers. The structure was pinpointed in
two places: at the junction of the eastern wall with the main line of
defences and in the northeastern corner indicating its projection to
have been 8.10 m from the line. In construction it is identical with
other parts of the fortifications. In form it appears to be slightly
less semicircular on the outside, possibly because it may have
served as the northern entrance gate, a fact still requiring
corroboration. A rectangular structure of red brick and broken
stone was added to the eastern side of the N.2 tower at a later date;
this structure was identified in 1993. On the crown of the tower,
which was presumably destroyed to a larger degree than the others,
a small church was built on a typical late plan with a rectagular
presbytery extending the width of the building. This church, of
which only the southeastern corner has been excavated, is
undoubtedly the latest known church structure from Dongola and
is dated, considering its position, to the 14^-15^ centuries; indeed
it may have been constructed already after the Nubian-Mameluke

' The author was in charge of the work on Alow A. Radosław Kostro was
responsible for the architectural measurements. The painting in the Church on
the Tower was protected by conservator Wojciech Chrrueł.

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