Dongola
Dates of work: 10 January–18 February 2016; 14 November–20 December 2016
Team:
Co-Directors: Prof. Włodzimierz Godlewski, archaeologist (both seasons); Prof. Adam Łajtar, epigraphist (first season); Dr. Dorota Dzierzbicka, archaeologist (second season) (all Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw)
NCAM representative: Abubakr Abdelrahman Adam Abdalla (first season), Shahed Hamdi (second season)
Archaeologists: Mateusz Rekłajtis, undergraduate student (Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw, first season), Agnieszka Ryś (independent; first season), Maciej Wyżgoł (independent, first season)
Ceramologists: Katarzyna Danys-Lasek (independent; both seasons)
Papyrologist: Prof. Tomasz Derda, (Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw; first season)
Epigraphist: Agata Deptuła (PhD candidate, Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw; second season)
Art historian/archaeologist: Dr. Dobrochna Zielińska (Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw; second season)
Architect: Dr. Romuald Tarczewski, construction engineer (Wrocław University of Science and Technology; second season)
Restorer: Urszula Kusz, wall painting restorer (freelance; both seasons)
Archaeozoologist: Dr. Marta Osypińska (Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań; second season)
Archaeologist/surveyor: Szymon Lenarczyk (PhD candidate, Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw; both seasons)
The PCMA UW team working within the frame of two programs supported by the Qatar–Sudan Archaeological Project (QSAP#10 and QSAP#31) continued the exploration of the Monastery on Kom H, digging in the monastic courtyard, the Central Building, directly to the east of the Monastic Church, and in the Southwestern Building (formerly the Southwest Annex). Architectural studies of the remains included a revisiting of buildings discovered earlier, including a review of the interior furnishings and installations, as well as expert studies on various categories of finds, among others, the pottery assemblage and the collection of Old Nubian and Greek inscriptions from the walls in the uncovered parts of the monastery. Wall paintings in the Central Building and Building NW.B.I (formerly the Northwest Annex) were conserved. The conservation and reconstruction project of the Mosque, originally the Throne Hall of the Kings of Makuria, entered the stage of reconstruction of the upper parts of the staircase leading to the viewing platform for tourists organized on the roof of the building.
On the Citadel the interior of the Church of the Archangel Raphael (SWN.B.V) was cleared in its entirety. Work continued on the conservation of successively discovered wall paintings and Greek inscriptions. The upper layers in the area between the church and the palace of King Ioannes I (SWB.B.I) were explored. In the Funj period (16th–17th century) this area served domestic purposes, similarly as the space inside the church walls. The eastern side of the fortifications were cleared, mainly a section 40 m long of the lower wall raised in Funj times to stop drifting sands from engulfing the town. Tower N.2, identified as part of the late 5th century enceinte, was conserved. Funj-period architecture on the northern side of Citadel (Kom B) continued to be investigated.
Text: Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 26/1
Contact
W. Godlewski: w.godlewski(at)uw.edu.pl