Ghazali Archeological Site Presentation Project (G.A.S.P.) (Sudan)
Dates of work: January–March 2015 (1); October–December 2015 (2)
Team:
Director: Dr. Artur Obłuski (Oriental Institute, University of Chicago/PCMA)
NCAM representative: Zaki el-Din Mahmoud, archaeologist (2015/1–2)
Archaeologists: Adrian Chlebowski (independent; 2015/1), Szymon Maślak (PCMA UW; 2015/1), Bartosz Wojciechowski (independent; 2015/1), Szymon Lenarczyk (Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw, 2015/1)
Architect: Tomasz Tymiński (independent; 2015/1)
Bioarchaeologists: Joanna Ciesielska (PhD candidate, Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw; 2015/1), Robert Mahler (PCMA UW; 2015/1), Robert James Stark (McMaster University, Canada; 2015/1)
Deramologists: Agnieszka Dzwonek (independent; 2015/1), Małgorzata Korzeniowska (National Museum in Warsaw; 2015/1), Monika Więch (independent; 2015/1)
Epigraphist: Grzegorz Ochała (Department of Papyrology, University of Warsaw; 2015/1)
Photographer: Adam Kamrowski (independent; 2015/1)
Restorers: Cristobal Calaforra-Rzepka, Urszula Kusz, Wisłomira Nicieja, Maciej Żelechowski-Stoń (all freelance; 2015/1)
Student-trainees: Aleksandra Błaszczyk, Aleksander Misiurny (both Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań; 2015/1)
(Joint description of seasons 2014 and 2015)
The G.A.S.P team was in the field for a total of 12 months in 2014 and 2015, thanks to generous funding from the University of Munster and the Qatar–Sudan Archaeological Project. Excavation confirmed Cemetery 2 as a monastic burial ground. All of the burials from the original phase of the cemetery were male and several tombstones identifying the deceased as monks were found in situ.
Bioarchaeological samples collected for isotope analyses (to be done by Robert Stark at McMaster University, Canada) will answer questions concerning the origin of the monastic population and the monks’ diet. South of the settlement at Ghazali, six almost fully preserved iron-smelting furnaces were identified and excavated. Samples will be analyzed by Jane Humphris (UCL Qatar). Cleaning the already excavated part of the monastic enclosure of debris and wind-blown sand was aimed at preparing it to serve as a touristic destination. The team excavated a monastic dormitory, food production facilities, and monastic latrines.
A site presentation and management plan was prepared by Archinos Architecture, a cultural heritage management company.
Text: Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 25