3,500-Year-Old Burial Site Unearthed in Sudan's Kerma Culture

In the Bayuda Desert of Sudan, archaeologists have uncovered a burial site from the ancient Kerma culture, radiocarbon dated to between 1775 and 1609 B.C. The discovery was made by a team including Monika Badura and Henryk Paner from the Gdansk Archaeological Museum.

The burial contained the skeletal remains of a robust man, approximately five feet, four inches tall. Analysis of the remains revealed flattened lumbar vertebrae and alterations in the left ankle, suggesting a life of intense physical labor.

Additionally, thickening of the skull indicates the possibility of malnutrition, disease, or trauma. Accompanying the remains were two clay vessels. The first was a bowl, found upside-down, mirroring a common practice in Kerma period burials, which researchers suggest may symbolize an emptying of life from both the vessel and the body.

The second vessel, notably unusual, featured a black stripe and bore traces of fire, animal bones, coprolites, and insect remains. These findings may suggest that the burial ceremony included a fire-lit feast, as explained by Henryk Paner.

Alongside the remains, eighty-two faience disk-shaped beads, likely obtained through Nubia's trade networks, were found positioned near the neck of the deceased. This excavation offers profound insights into the burial practices and societal structures of one of Africa's earliest civilizations, the Kerma culture.

As reported by Phys.org, this site adds important knowledge to our understanding of ancient Nubia, where the customs and lives of its people continue to intrigue researchers. The findings not only shed light on the individual interred but also on the broader cultural practices of the time.