Second Season Report
The Second Season Report
Khandaq satellite map
http://www.maplandia.com/sudan/northern/al-khandaq/
Khandaq satellite map
http://www.maplandia.com/sudan/northern/al-khandaq/
The field work was carried in two periods: February / March 2007, November 2007. This season was funded and supported by the following:
1. University of Khartoum. 2. SARS. 3. The citizens of Al-Khandaq (providing lodging)
During the first period 13/2-11/3 a comprehensive archaeological survey was carried from El-Khandag 18 37 173, 30 33 912 and up north to Sory 18 42 643, 30 32 533. About 35 sites were registered within Khandaq, 5 at Sali and 1 at Sori. Most of the sites are Islamic sites (Gubbas, graveyards, khalwas ruins) few Christian remains and prehistoric sites, beside the remains of the Al-Khandaq old town and the fort (Qaila Qaila) (see map attached)
The second period 11/11-26/11 the work was concentrated at Al-Khandaq, as one of our primary focus is in, the in-depth study of particular threatened sites like al-Khandaq and wad Nimeiri. The following tasks have been achieved:
1. Plotting of the fort using total station (a major work made possible by SARS contribution).
2. Measurement of 5 houses.
3. Rescue excavation of a Christian group burial.
4. Analysis of the skeleton of the above mentioned burial.
5. Conservation of the grave after returning the skeletal remains.
6. Ethnographical observation of a female ovens maker.
7. Collecting of Oral tradition.
8. Erecting signs for the fort, group grave, university of Khartoum piece of land (suggested rest house).
The field work has served as field school, which helped in developing the skills of junior staff as well as students (this season were accompanied by a fifth year student, she carried her field work in the area and its environs for her BA thesis). Supervision and training is also facilitates for MA student who studied the archaeological remains of Maqasir island. (part 3 in our survey strategy).
As mentioned in our project proposal that the area is large and has its own internal complexes, thus we have subdivided it into four regions as measures to control the work. data and evaluation. Now we have finished surveying Khandaq and its environs, next season will start Wad Nemeiri and its environs. As envisaged we are going to complete the survey of the second area and at the same time a small group will be plotting wad Nemeiri Fort and its surroundings
The project has realized the importance of maintaining and preserving of one of the two storeys houses as a nucleus for a museum. It has been agreed to be the house of Mohammed Mohi el Din, as the owners are still occupying part of the house and welcomed the idea, beside the fact that it is still standing in good shape. A lot of stored objects in the same house can be part of the exhibition. This with the fort and the rest of the town can produce a real attraction to tourism in the area and it might flourish the area after more than half century of stagnation.
The team:
First period: (*) Intisar Soghayroun Elzein, project director, Dept. of archaeology, university of Khartoum. (*) Azhari Mustafa Sadig:- field director Pre and proto historic archaeology, dept. of archaeology, university of Khartoum (*) Yahia Fadl Tahir Field director: Ecology and environment, dept. of archaeology University of Khartoum (*) Ali Osman M. Salih, Dept. of Archaeology, University of Khartoum (*) Hueida Adam, Dept. of Archaeology, University of Khartoum (*) Ahmed Hussein Abd al_Rahman Adam, Dept. of Archaeology, University of Khartoum (*) Abd Al Rahman Ibrahim Saeed, Dept. of Archaeology, University of Khartoum (*) Husna Taha al-Atta, Dept. of Archaeology, University of Khartoum (*) Nahid Abd al Latif, MA student, Dept. of Archaeology, University of Khartoum
Second period : (*) Intisar Soghayroun Elzein, project director, Dept. of archaeology, university of Khartoum. (*) Isabella Welsby :- field director medieval and post medieval Archaeology (*) Azhari Mustafa Sadig:- field director Pre and proto historic archaeology, dept. of archaeology, university of Khartoum (*) Yahia Fadl Tahir Field director: Ecology and environment, dept. of archaeology University of Khartoum (*) Ahmed Hussein Abd al_Rahman Adam, Dept. of Archaeology, University of Khartoum (*) Abd Al Rahman Ibrahim Saeed, Dept. of Archaeology, University of Khartoum
1. University of Khartoum. 2. SARS. 3. The citizens of Al-Khandaq (providing lodging)
During the first period 13/2-11/3 a comprehensive archaeological survey was carried from El-Khandag 18 37 173, 30 33 912 and up north to Sory 18 42 643, 30 32 533. About 35 sites were registered within Khandaq, 5 at Sali and 1 at Sori. Most of the sites are Islamic sites (Gubbas, graveyards, khalwas ruins) few Christian remains and prehistoric sites, beside the remains of the Al-Khandaq old town and the fort (Qaila Qaila) (see map attached)
The second period 11/11-26/11 the work was concentrated at Al-Khandaq, as one of our primary focus is in, the in-depth study of particular threatened sites like al-Khandaq and wad Nimeiri. The following tasks have been achieved:
1. Plotting of the fort using total station (a major work made possible by SARS contribution).
2. Measurement of 5 houses.
3. Rescue excavation of a Christian group burial.
4. Analysis of the skeleton of the above mentioned burial.
5. Conservation of the grave after returning the skeletal remains.
6. Ethnographical observation of a female ovens maker.
7. Collecting of Oral tradition.
8. Erecting signs for the fort, group grave, university of Khartoum piece of land (suggested rest house).
The field work has served as field school, which helped in developing the skills of junior staff as well as students (this season were accompanied by a fifth year student, she carried her field work in the area and its environs for her BA thesis). Supervision and training is also facilitates for MA student who studied the archaeological remains of Maqasir island. (part 3 in our survey strategy).
As mentioned in our project proposal that the area is large and has its own internal complexes, thus we have subdivided it into four regions as measures to control the work. data and evaluation. Now we have finished surveying Khandaq and its environs, next season will start Wad Nemeiri and its environs. As envisaged we are going to complete the survey of the second area and at the same time a small group will be plotting wad Nemeiri Fort and its surroundings
The project has realized the importance of maintaining and preserving of one of the two storeys houses as a nucleus for a museum. It has been agreed to be the house of Mohammed Mohi el Din, as the owners are still occupying part of the house and welcomed the idea, beside the fact that it is still standing in good shape. A lot of stored objects in the same house can be part of the exhibition. This with the fort and the rest of the town can produce a real attraction to tourism in the area and it might flourish the area after more than half century of stagnation.
The team:
First period: (*) Intisar Soghayroun Elzein, project director, Dept. of archaeology, university of Khartoum. (*) Azhari Mustafa Sadig:- field director Pre and proto historic archaeology, dept. of archaeology, university of Khartoum (*) Yahia Fadl Tahir Field director: Ecology and environment, dept. of archaeology University of Khartoum (*) Ali Osman M. Salih, Dept. of Archaeology, University of Khartoum (*) Hueida Adam, Dept. of Archaeology, University of Khartoum (*) Ahmed Hussein Abd al_Rahman Adam, Dept. of Archaeology, University of Khartoum (*) Abd Al Rahman Ibrahim Saeed, Dept. of Archaeology, University of Khartoum (*) Husna Taha al-Atta, Dept. of Archaeology, University of Khartoum (*) Nahid Abd al Latif, MA student, Dept. of Archaeology, University of Khartoum
Second period : (*) Intisar Soghayroun Elzein, project director, Dept. of archaeology, university of Khartoum. (*) Isabella Welsby :- field director medieval and post medieval Archaeology (*) Azhari Mustafa Sadig:- field director Pre and proto historic archaeology, dept. of archaeology, university of Khartoum (*) Yahia Fadl Tahir Field director: Ecology and environment, dept. of archaeology University of Khartoum (*) Ahmed Hussein Abd al_Rahman Adam, Dept. of Archaeology, University of Khartoum (*) Abd Al Rahman Ibrahim Saeed, Dept. of Archaeology, University of Khartoum