A Kerma Ancien Cemetery in the Northern Dongola Reach

This archaeological report delivers a comprehensive analysis of a Kerma Ancien cemetery, excavated by the Sudan Archaeological Research Society during its Northern Dongola Reach Survey from 1993 to 1997. As a final excavation report, it provides a meticulous record of burial practices and material culture from a pivotal era in ancient Nubian history. The study stands as a crucial primary source for understanding funerary traditions outside of major urban centers, offering a rare glimpse into the lives and death rituals of a rural community along the Nile.

What makes this publication particularly significant is its status as one of the very few completely excavated cemeteries from the Kerma Ancien period, providing an invaluable comparative dataset for scholars. The focus on rural funerary culture distinguishes it from studies centered on elite or royal burials, offering a more democratic perspective on ancient Sudanese society. Archaeologists, anthropologists, and specialists in Nubian studies will find this an essential reference for understanding settlement patterns and social organization in the region. This work substantially enriches our knowledge of early Kushite civilization and sets a benchmark for archaeological publication standards.