Polish researchers have discovered the grave of a man who lived around 4,000 years ago in Sudan’s Bayuda Desert, shedding new light on ancient burial customs and the region’s past environment.
Located in central Sudan, the Bayuda Desert remains one of the country’s least studied regions. Although limited excavations were carried out in the mid-20th century, systematic archaeological investigations did not begin until the 21st century.
For more than six years, the fieldwork has been carried out by a team led by Dr Henryk Paner of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Warsaw. One of the burials they uncovered was from the Kerma period, the powerful Nubian kingdom between 2500 and 1500 BC.
They published the results of their interdisciplinary research in Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa. Biological and pathological studies indicate that the deceased endured some high-exertion semi-desert living conditions, probably worked long hours, ate a restricted diet, and resided near animals.
In the grave itself, it was shallow and roughly oval, irregularly shaped as the rocky ground affected its form. On its back, the body was positioned, head facing east, a few degrees north.
The legs were sharply bent and turned to the right, with the feet resting on the pelvic bones—a formation common in earlier Kerma burials. Behind the body, archaeologists found two hand-built ceramic vessels: a medium-sized jug with a spout placed close to ground level and an inverted bowl.
In the jug were charred plant remains, bits of animal bone, coprolites, and beetle parts — probably from a hearth used for funeral rites. Because there were no signs of burning on the vessel, the researchers say the materials were deliberately positioned inside it.
The animal bones could depict bones from a funeral feast that were not consumed but discarded in flames. Pottery in Kerma burials was considered potentially valuable not only as a container or grave offerings but also as a social or individual marker, according to the team.
Intentionally puncturing, opening or upside-down vessels might have symbolically “deactivated” them, as ritual practice often involves both ancestor veneration and transformation of the dead.
Environmental mapping of the burial grounds suggests that 4,000 years ago, the cemetery hill, in a desert environment, was in a less damp setting. At the time, the area probably looked like a savannah, with grasses, shrubs and scattered trees. Dr Paner said the finding suggests that even a modest burial can provide valuable information when viewed from a cross-disciplinary perspective, adding to the evidence for reconstructing ancient climates and environments.
Sources : PAP