SFDAS

Archaeological surveys of the SFDAS in collaboration with the NCAM

- Survey and rescue excavations of the SFDAS (2001-2005)
- Hassaï and Ariab archaeological survey (1994-2000)
- Khandaq - Debba archaeological survey (1992)
- SHamabad – Abu Hamed archaeological survey (1989)

Survey and rescue excavations of the SFDAS (2001-2005)

Francis Geus, Yves Lecointe, Vincent Francigny, Raphaël Pouriel, Coralie Gradel, Frédérique Adam, Aurore Schmitt, David Peressinotto, Elena Garcea, Piotr Osypinski, Yan Moyerson, Maria Gatto, Philippe Van Peer, Vincent Rondot, Ali Merghani Ahmed, Nahla Mustafa, Habab Ahmed Idriss, Awadallah Ali El Bacha, Fawzi Hassan Bakhit, Ayman El Tayeb, Heider Mohamdian, AbdelHai Abdel Sawi, El Taher Adam Elnur, Yassin Mohamed Sayed, Ahmed El Amin Elsukari, El Hassan Ahmed Mohamed, Azari Mustafa, Mohamed Ahmed Abdel Hamid, Faïz Hassan Osman, Abdel Bagi Ayib, Mejdi Awad.

For four years, the SFDAS has participated with NCAM in an archaeological survey program and rescue excavations linked to the construction of a dam near the 4th cataract of the Nile. This program started in November 2001 and ended in 2005. NCAM asked the SFDAS to carry out four interventions in the areas selected for the resettlement of Shaagia and Manasir populations who currently live along the fourth cataract. These regions are located near Debba, Korti, Atbara and Abu Hamed.
The first stage of the program, which ended in December 2002, covered the region of el-Multaga, east of Debba. The survey allowed the identification of 147 sites with an archaeological interest. Its contribution mainly concerns prehistory and more specifically Middle Paleolithic stone processing sites, Mesolithic and Khartoum Neolithic settlements, as well as funeral mounds dating from the second half of the fifth millennium BC.

The second rescue campaign took place on the right bank of the Wadi Muqaddam from November 2003 to April 2004. One hundred and eighty nine sites were identified. The most ancient material found at the surface shows evidence of human occupation from the Acheulean era and the very beginning of the Middle Paleolithic. As for Multaga, the Neolithic sites are settlements from the Khartoum Mesolithic and Khartoum Neolithic. The excavations of four small cemeteries revealed the presence of small communities living along the wadis during the post-Meroitic period. The more numerous Christian sites are mainly isolated tombs that are sometimes organised in groups of several units.

The third region, south of Ed-Damer, was surveyed from October to December 2004. Thirty five sites were identified on a 240 km² zone (south of Ed-Damer, Mukabrab site). Most of them were found on old terraces of the Nile located a few kilometres east of the present course of the Nile. The oldest site is a Neolithic settlement that is contemporary with Khartoum Mesolithic and Khartoum Neolithic. The discovery on the site of fragments comparable to ancient Kerma ceramics is a first in this region of the Middle Nile. A small cemetery with Meroitic and post-Meroitic tombs, without material, was the subject of a rescue excavation and a few isolated tumulary tombs of the Christian era were also studied.

The last operation, named “Kehaila East Archaeological Salvage Project”, took place in June 2005 and concerned the Keheila area between Abu Hamed and the village of Maheisa (coordinates: 42.000 North, 19°35.000 South; 33°01.000 West, 33°15.500 East). This desert region is mainly characterised by gravel plains crossed by small wadis. The most important is Wadi El Go’oud. The identified sites are predominantly Neolithic (43,48%). One should also mention Kerma (6,95%), Post-Meroitic (4,35%) and Christian (5,21) sites.

Hassaï and Ariab Archaeological survey (1994-2000)

At the request of the mining company Ariab Mining Co., the SFDAS conducted a reconnaissance mission in the region surrounding the mine in order to identify the archaeological sites that could be threatened at short term by mining activities. This reconnaissance enabled them to identify several sites:

Ganaet: this quarry site located on a gebel presents dry stone constructions (settlements/workshops) with many grinding stones with a central perforation. The settlement is connected with the work areas linked to the quarries. There are two sorts of constructions, round or square, formed by a low wall made of two worked stone panels and filled with various materials. This type of installation reminds us of the Christian constructions in Nubia. The quarries are very narrow cavities that follow the veins and go deeply into the ground.
- Gurad: in the plain, this area shows many tombs and an important settlement as well as quarries located on adjoining outcrops.
- Khor Tidityu and Bir Ajam: this area provides many settlement structures and a succession of funerary tumuli made of dry stone. A series of small figurines had been discovered near Bir Ajam and had been presented in 1993 in the Genava journal. A geologist from the BRGM, who had seen the site years ago, says that the figurines formed a kind of cone. He also mentions the top part of a probable kiln, with charcoals. The figurines would have scattered from the kiln along the slope. A C14 dating made by the BRGM on the charcoals has dated the structure to 1200 (± 100) BP.
- Taladeirut: burial and settlement zone. A dry stone tumulus, located on one of the future mining sites, was excavated. Its material indicates a dating later than the 4th century BC.
- Shashatilo: Prehistoric settlement site at the foot of a rocky crest covered with rock engravings dating from different periods (pastoralism, camelids, etc.).
- Hamin Rawaï: gebel offering the same sort of rock engravings as Shashatilo, as well as evidence of wildlife.

Archaeological survey Khandaq-Debba (1992)

Jacques Reinold, Yves Lecointe, Jean Bialais.
The SFDAS has surveyed the area between Khandaq and Debba for a month. This program has listed over a hundred Christian and Islamic ancient sites.

Archaeological survey Hamadab-Abu Hamed (1989)

Jacques Reinold, Patrice Lenoble, Yves Lecointe, Jean Bialais
The NCAM and the SFDAS have done a joint survey of the region of the 4th cataract for two months. Seven hundred sites have been registered on the left bank of the Nile and the main islands, from Hamadab to Mograt island, located 180 km upstream. The contribution of this survey concerns the Prehistoric period and mainly historic sites, from the post-Meroitic period to the Christian period.