Search results

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Pedologický a paleopedologický výzkum jihozápadní části pohoří Sabaloka

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Lisá L., Bajer A., Pacina J., McCool J.-P.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2015

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issue 14

78-84

EN

The main aim of the geoarchaeological research of Sabaloka in the 2014 season was the paleopedological mapp - ing around the archaeological sites excavated in the past seasons. Generally, four main types of soils or paleosoils were described. These soils correspond to the geomor - phology of the studied area, past climate and hydrological conditions. Around the rocky cities Phaeozems and their relicts and derivatives were described, while in the direction of the Sabaloka plateau, Leptosols of a different age prevail. In areas proximate to the Nile River, Stagnosols, in some places covered by organic sediments, and also Fluvisols were described. The reconnaissance of these soils provides key information for interpreting the environment in the context of past human occupation in the study area.

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Výzkum lokality Sfinga (SBK.W-60) v pohoří Sabaloka v centrálním Súdánu: poznatky z vyzkumné sezóny 2015

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Varadzinová L., Varadzin L., Čuláková K., Řídký J., Sůvová Z.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2016

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issue 16

47-61

EN

In November 2015, the expedition directed by the Czech Institute of Egyptology carried out its fourth excavation campaign at Jebel Sabaloka (West Bank). Efforts were devoted to further exploration of the site of Sphinx (SBK.W-60) in the area of the "Rocky Cities" where a large late prehistoric burial ground, tentatively dated to the 8th millennium cal. BC, had been uncovered in 2012. Altogether 5 trenches, with the square area of 17 m2 in total and with their depths equating to as much as 1 m, were excavated to explore another section of the burial ground and to investigate the settlement stratigraphies in the southern and central parts of the site. Alongside the excavation, selected categories of finds (lithics, ground stone artefacts, animal bones) were analysed and documented. Also, further detailed surface survey and documentation of varied features at the site were performed in order to gather additional data necessary for the preparation of the first detailed report on this remarkable site. Last but not least, special measures were taken to protect the study area from damage by both illegal excavation and gravel quarrying.

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Usli. Na prahu říše boha Amona

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Bárta M., Turek J.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2015

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issue 14

104-114

EN

The Czech Institute of Egyptology exploration of the archaeological site at Usli came to its fifth season. The site is becoming an important stone in the overall mosaic of the ancient history of the Sudan. The seasons 2014 and 2015 focus - ed on the New Kingdom Temple No. 1 and on the Kushite Palatial Complex including Temple No. 3 and a large circular structure discovered by the 2013 geophys ical survey. The overall length of Temple No. 1 was at the minimum of 40 metres, with its width equating to at least 17.50 metres. The temple was oriented from south-east (front part, entrance) to north-west (rear part), i.e. with the entrance away from the Nile just as in the case of the small brick temple detected further north-west of Temple No. 1. The Sandstone Temple consisted of (at least) one columned court featuring four columns along the shorter and six along the longer walls; of the excavated column bases, more than one half was uncovered in situ. Further, there was a pronaos featuring four columns. This gave way to three sanctuaries (or a triple sanctuary) located at the very rear side of the structure. The 2014 field campaign confirmed the poor state of preservation of this mon ument. In general, the above-ground part of the structure has been entirely eroded and quarried away; the small fragments bearing remains of the original decoration are unfortunately insufficient to study the original decoration motives or to ascertain which deities were actually worshipped in the temple’s sanctuaries. The fact that the structure was of high importance is indicated by the 2009 discovery of a royal statue (Bárta et al. 2013a) and by the presence of numerous fragments of gold foil discovered in 2014. Some important data were acquired from the 2015 spring campaign at Usli. First, considering the large rightangled structure located to the south of the main “palace” building. Its size, sandstone column bases and perfect layout of the sandstone pavement suggest it was a building of a higher status. The discovery of wall paintings creates an extraordinary context that is probably connected to a religious function of the building. The current hypothesis is that this structure might have been a temple servicing the main “palace”. Paintings were originally covering the whole interior surface of the walls of this structure designated as Temple No. 3. The presumption of contemporaneity between Temple No. 3 and the main “palace” building seems to be support - ed by the existence of an outside pavement that we tentatively interpret as a paved courtyard. The “courtyard” pave ment covers almost the whole area between Temple No. 3 and the main “palace” building. The area between these two buildings was later cut by a large circular structure. The circular structure is clearly cutting into the wall of Temple No. 3. The possible functional interpretation of the large circular feature (11 meters in diameter) is that it was a large well. Final chronological consideration will be possible after the comparison of relevant radiocarbon dates and evidence of scarce finds of pottery (Napatan, Meroitic ceramics) and stylistic examination of wall paintings.

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Geodetické měření a 3D modelování jako nástroj pro dokumentaci archeologického výzkumu v Súdánu (Sabaloka, 6. nilský katarakt)

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Pacina J.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2015

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issue 14

85-93

EN

New spatial data collection methods such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Kite Aerial Photography (KAP), close range photogrammetry and laser scanning provide numer - ous opportunities for archaeological research documentation. Since the year 2009, the archaeological research cov - ered by the Czech Institute of Egyptology has been situated in the area of the 6th Nile cataract – near the Sabaloka game reserve (the Republic of the North Sudan). The past expedi - tions employed traditional ways of surveying the archae - ological sites in creating archaeological maps and in other types of research. In the 2014 season, the KAP and close range photogrammetry methods were applied at several archaeological sites in order to make a comprehensive database enabling the study of the sites in the virtual environment. The Sphinx locality (SBK.W-60) presented in this paper is completely covered with spatial data of different scales (the whole locality, occupation terrace, sound ings and details of discovered features) – surveyed points, orthophotos and digital terrain models derived from KAP and close range photogrammetry. All of the created 3D models are accessible online at https://sketchfab.com/jan.pacina/folders.

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Výzkum pravěkého osídlení v pohoří Sabaloka v centrálním Súdánu: poznatky z výzkumné sezóny 2017

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Varadzinová L., Varadzin L., Pacina J.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2018

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issue 20

34-45

EN

In the autumn of 2017, the exploration of the late prehistoric occupation on the west bank of the Nile at Jebel Sabaloka came to its fifth season. The fieldwork focused on the site of Fox Hill (SBK.W-20), last explored in 2012. Four trenches (no. 21–24) measuring 24 m2 in total (fig. 3) were excavated, all on Terrace 3 of the site (fig. 2). The most significant findings of the field campaign include the following: (1) A large late prehistoric burial ground was uncovered on Terrace 3. Based on the hitherto finds of intact (14 individuals) and disturbed burials and their distribution in Trenches 21 and 22 only, the burial ground appears to have been confined roughly to the southern third of Terrace 3 and to have contained at least several dozen deceased (figs. 4a, 5, 6). The use of shells of Nile bivalves as burial goods was attested (B.5, B.6; figs. 7 and 8); other items serving this function were not detected. Of interest is the presence of stone piles, in some cases carefully built, which covered burials particularly in the eastern part of Trench 22 (fig. 5). Before carrying out AMS 14C analyses, a Late Mesolithic dating can be tentatively put forward for (at least part of) this burial ground based on similarities to the burial ground at the site of Sphinx (e.g. Varadzinová –Varadzin 2017). (2) Terrace 3 had been used for settlement as well, both during the Mesolithic and the Neolithic. Several settlement features were uncovered, of which at least two had shapes reminiscent of those characteristic of storage pits (F.54, F.57 –- not dated more precisely so far; fig. 4a). Also, a stratification of settlement layers was detected (fig. 4b). (3) Of utmost significance is the discovery of fragments of what appears to be a stratified sequence of layers of Pleistocene dating (!) (fig. 9). They contained numerous assemblages of lithics with an unusually high representation of vein quartz, tiny cores ca. 1 cm in size used for production of microbladelets possibly by indirect percussion, and other pieces of lithics exhibiting advanced patination. The material has tentatively been assigned to the Late Stone Age. (4) The first of its kind was also a workshop for the production of Neolithic gouges on red rhyolite (fig. 1, 2, 11), detected in the western part of Fox Hill, with finds of raw material, primary shaping waste, finalisation waste, and unfinished as well as finished artefacts. The exploration of the site will continue in 2018.

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Archeologie versus archeologizace: příkladová studie Usli, Súdán

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Lisá L., Bajer A., Brůna V., Varadzinová Suková L., Bárta M.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2015

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issue 14

115-120

EN

The main aim of this paper is to show how detailed knowl - edge of the recent landscape may help us to identify formation processes in the context of archaeological localities. The research area used in this paper as a case study is called Usli and is located close to the Fourth Nile Cataract. Since 2009 this site has been one of the conces sions explored by the Czech Institute of Egyptology (Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague). Close to the site, composed of a complex of temples and palatial and other buildings dated mostly to the Napatan Period (ca. 795–350 B.C.), there is an abandoned modern village, originally built using traditional techniques and building materials. It is possible to recognise clearly how the walls and houses slowly decay and what type of anthropogenic sediment comes to being in consequence of these processes. In the present paper, the sedimentary records described at the archaeological site are compared with the subrecent sedimentary records found in the abandoned village. Additionally, anthropogenic features noted within the abandoned village are discussed in the context of the possible archaeological record.

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Výzkum pravěkého osídlení v západní části pohoří Sabaloka v centrálním Súdánu: poznatky z výzkumné sezóny 2018

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Varadzinová L., Varadzin L., Crevecœur I., Kapustka K., McCool J.-P., Sůvová Z.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2019

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issue 22

43-53

EN

The most significant findings of the ongoing exploration of the Fox Hill site in the western part of the Sabaloka Mountains include the detection of extensive remains of a more-than-one-metre thick deposit on Terrace 1, tentatively interpreted as a relic of prehistoric Nile floods that must have reached as high as 10 metres above the present level of the Nile inundation, and the confirmation of the considerable size of the burial ground on Terrace 3, where 26 primary inhumations and 21 groups of more or less articulated human bones appertaining to a still unspecified number of individuals have been uncovered so far. Further examples of scarce remains of grave goods were found with three individuals (stone tools, bones of a large mammal, beads of ostrich eggshell and red quartz). We suppose Mesolithic dating for most of the burials, but a Neolithic date is more likely in the case of the burial of a child with stone beads found in the uppermost stratigraphic position (indication of the continuity of the burial ground into the Neolithic). It is thus confirmed that Fox Hill stands out in many respects in the settlement structure of the western part of the Sabaloka Mountains and can constitute a source of data of extraordinary significance for addressing a number of issues of supra-regional importance.

CS

Mezi nejvýznamnější poznatky pokračujícího výzkumu lokality Liščí kopec v západní části pohoří Sabaloka patří nalezení rozsáhlých pozůstatků více než 1 m mocných souvrství na terase 1, předběžně interpretovaných jako relikt prehistorických nilských záplav dosahujících úrovně cca 10 m nad současnými záplavami. Neméně významné je potvrzení značné velikosti pohřebiště na terase 3, odkud dosud pochází 26 jedinců v primární poloze plus 21 skupin více či méně artikulovaných lidských kostí, které patří zatím neurčenému počtu jedinců. Byly rovněž nalezeny další ojedinělé pozůstatky pohřební výbavy u tří jedinců (kamenné nástroje, kosti velkého savce a korálky ze skořápek pštrosích vajec a červeného křemene). U většiny pohřbů předpokládáme datování do mezolitu, avšak dětský hrob s kamennými korálky v nejmladší stratigrafické pozici je pravděpodobně neolitického stáří (indicie pro kontinuitu pohřebiště do neolitu). Potvrzuje se tak, že tato lokalita v řadě ohledů vyniká v rámci sídlištní struktury celé západní části pohoří Sabaloka a že může být mimořádně významným zdrojem dat pro řešení otázek nadregionálního významu.

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Diskovité korálky ze skořápek pštrosích vajec z mezolitického sídliště Sfinga (SKB.W-60) v pohoří Sabaloka (centrální Súdán)

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Varadzinová Suková L., Sůvová Z., Cílek V., Odler M., Pokorný P., Varadzin L.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2015

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issue 14

66-71

EN

Ostrich eggs are sought after not only for their nutrition content, but also for use in artefact industries. The egg shells can be used to make containers or items of personal decoration, such as pendants and disc beads. The latter artefacts and the process of their manufacturing were studied on the material gained through excavation in 2012 of Sounding 2 (20 m2) at the Mesolithic settlement and burial ground of Sphinx (SBK.W-60) at Jebel Sabaloka (West Bank) in central Sudan.

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Výzkum lokality Sfinga (SBK.W-60) v pohoří Sabaloka v centrálním Súdánu: poznatky z výzkumné sezóny 2014

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Varadzinová Suková L., Varadzin L.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2015

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issue 14

56-65

EN

In the autumn of 2014, the interdisciplinary mission directed by the Czech Institute of Egyptology carried out its third excavation campaign at Jebel Sabaloka (West Bank). The site has been explored for remains of prehistoric occupation since 2011. A comparatively small area (7.50 m2) was explored in detail at the site of Sphinx (SBK.W-60) with the aim of identifying settlement layers and features, investigat - ing archaeological formation processes in co-operation with geologists and sedimentologists, and defining future meth - ods and procedures for exploration of prehistoric sites at Jebel Sabaloka. In addition to a number of important finds, several findings of methodological significance were made that contribute to the topical discussion on the character of cultural deposits of prehistoric dating in the Central Sudan and the possibilities and limitations of their stratigraphic excavation by means of traditional archaeological methods.

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Studium současné vegetace v Súdánu jako důležitý nástroj pro interpretaci archeobotanických výzkumů v severovýchodní Africe

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Pokorná A., Kuncová K.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2015

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issue 14

94-103

EN

Attempts at reconstructing past environments are an important part of archaeobotanical investigations. However, any interpretation of archaeobotanical data must be, among other things, based on a detailed knowledge of species behaviour in recent vegetation. To meet this requirement, we studied vegetation in the area surrounding archaeological excavations in the western part of Jebel Sabaloka, near the 6th Nile Cataract in the Sudan, based on sample-plots (relevés) in different habitats covering a gradient from dry rocks to the irrigated alluvial plain of the River Nile. The species composition variability clearly corresponds with the environmental gradient of water availability. In addition to that, the vegetation of the irrigated alluvial plain shows a clear difference in the management of the plots (fields versus scrubby edges). Plant species with a narrow niche were selected as potential diagnostic species for certain habitats, in contrast to species with a broad niche. However, we need to be cautious in making generalizations about this finding. Especially for reconstructing the remote past, the knowledge of the local environment would be insufficient. It is generally known that the Holocene climate differed distinctively from that of today. In reconstructing the older phases of the Holocene, it is necessary to investigate recent vegetation in areas situated much further to the south.

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Merojské královské město ve Wad Ben Naga

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Onderka P., Vrtal V.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2015

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issue 14

121-135

EN

Almost two thousand years ago, Wad Ben Naga was one of the most important centres of the so-called Island of Meroe. The ancient city developed on the right bank of the Nile, to the north of Wadi Kirbikan, at a distance of ca. 80 km upstream from Meroe, the capital of the Mer - oitic kingdom. The site gained its significance through its highly strategic location, controlling numerous trade routes meeting at the site. At the same time, it formed a southern limit of one of two core areas of the kingdom, stretching between Meroe in the north and Wad Ben Naga in the south. A settlement of a considerable size existed at Wad Ben Naga already at the turn of the Napatan and Meroitic periods. In the early Meroitic period, it developed into a royal city and distinctive administrative centre. In its heyday, around the beginning of the Christian era, the city went through an intensive building boom, namely during the reigns of Queen Amanishakheto, King Natakamani and Queen Amanitore. Today the archaeological site covers circa 4 km2 and can be divided into three main zones: Central Wad Ben Naga with the ruins of the ancient city, and the Northern and the Southern Cemeteries. Since 2009, the National Museum of the Czech Republic has carried out archae - ological research at the site. During the research, re-excavation of structures unearthed by the Sudanese expedition of Thabit Hassan Thabit, active at the site between 1958 and 1960, was carried out. In the past three years, the expedition has focused on the excavation of the socalled Typhonium, identified as a temple dedicated to the goddess Mut.

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Raně postmerojský pohřeb lučištníka z pohoří Sabaloka

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Varadzinová Suková L., Varadzin L., Havelková P., Novák J., Pokorná A., Pokorný P.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2015

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issue 14

72-77

EN

In 2011, the expedition of the Czech Institute of Egyptology (Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague) excavated one of three tumuli on one of the settlement terraces at the late prehistoric site of Fox Hill (SBK.W-21) at Jebel Sabaloka and the Sixth Nile Cataract in central Sudan. The excavation brought to light a standard burial of an archer dated to the early post-Meroitic period with important series of archaeobotanical (pollen, macro-remains, charcoal) and palaeomalacological (land snails) data. The results of the multi-disci - plinary investigation of the tumulus discuss ed in this paper illustrate the marked, but so far only little exploited potential of these monuments, omnipresent in the archaeological land - scapes of central Sudan, for extending our knowledge of not only the burial rites, but also of the supra-regional distribution of artefacts, the character of the environment and, last but not least, of subsistence strategies in this particular period.

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Pedologický a paleopedologický výzkum jihozápadní části pohoří Sabaloka

Výzkum lokality Sfinga (SBK.W-60) v pohoří Sabaloka v centrálním Súdánu: poznatky z vyzkumné sezóny 2015

Usli. Na prahu říše boha Amona

Geodetické měření a 3D modelování jako nástroj pro dokumentaci archeologického výzkumu v Súdánu (Sabaloka, 6. nilský katarakt)

Výzkum pravěkého osídlení v pohoří Sabaloka v centrálním Súdánu: poznatky z výzkumné sezóny 2017

Archeologie versus archeologizace: příkladová studie Usli, Súdán

Výzkum pravěkého osídlení v západní části pohoří Sabaloka v centrálním Súdánu: poznatky z výzkumné sezóny 2018

Diskovité korálky ze skořápek pštrosích vajec z mezolitického sídliště Sfinga (SKB.W-60) v pohoří Sabaloka (centrální Súdán)

Výzkum lokality Sfinga (SBK.W-60) v pohoří Sabaloka v centrálním Súdánu: poznatky z výzkumné sezóny 2014

Studium současné vegetace v Súdánu jako důležitý nástroj pro interpretaci archeobotanických výzkumů v severovýchodní Africe

Merojské královské město ve Wad Ben Naga

Raně postmerojský pohřeb lučištníka z pohoří Sabaloka