Forts of North Omdurman

New Global Perspectives on Archaeological Prospection. 13th International Conference on Archaeological Prospection, 2019

Numerous remains of defensive architecture are highly visible parts of the archaeological landscape in Upper Nubia (present-day northern and central Sudan). They are mainly located along the banks of the Nile on both the alluvial soils of the river valley and rocky ridges and hilltops. This study focuses on three southernmost medieval forts in the Nile Valley: Hosh el-Kab, Abu Nafisa and Umm Marrahi. They are located relatively close to each other. Umm Marrahi is approximately 3.5km south from Hosh el-Kab and Abu Nafisa is approximately 0.5km northeast from Hosh el-Kab. The presence of these forts has been interpreted to be related to the first rulers of the Kingdom of Alwa from the 6th century AD onwards. However, some researchers suggest that at least some of the forts might have been built during the Meroitic (c. 4th century BC – 4th century AD) or Late-Meroitic period (c. 2nd – 4th centuries AD). The unusual concentration of defensive structures in the area of North Omdurman raises question about their cultural origins and history

Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa, 2021

A group of nine fortified sites, similar to Roman fortlets, occur along approximately 550 km of the Middle Nile Valley of Sudan between the Fourth Cataract and the confluence of the White and Blue Niles. Previous research indicates that these forts were built in Late Antiquity, i.e. between the second and seventh centuries AD. This was a time of profound changes in the region that included the disintegration of the Meroitic kingdom and the development of several medieval Nubian realms. Drawing on previous research and the results of two seasons of fieldwork at three of the forts in 2018, this paper provides an answer to the questions of who and why these forts were built. Small finds and radiocarbon samples from various contexts provide insights into their history and indicate that all three of the forts investigated were erected in a short period during the second part of the sixth century, a time of conflict between the Nubian kingdoms that is described by the contemporary historian John of Ephesus. RÉSUMÉ Un groupe de neuf sites fortifiés, semblables à de petits forts romains, s'échelonne sur une distance d'environ 550 km le long de la vallée du Nil moyen au Soudan, entre la quatrième cataracte et le confluent du Nil Blanc et du Nil Bleu. Des recherches antérieures indiquent que ces forts furent construits dans l'Antiquité tardive, c'est-à-dire entre le deuxième et le septième siècle après J.-C. Ce fut une période de profonds changements dans la région, y compris la désintégration du royaume méroïtique et le développement de plusieurs royaumes nubiens médiévaux. S'appuyant sur des recherches antérieures et les résultats de deux missions de terrain sur trois de ces forts en 2018, cet article apporte une réponse aux questions de l'identité des bâtisseurs de ces forts et de la raison de leur existence. Les objets recueillis et les échantillons de radiocarbone provenant de divers contextes donnent un aperçu de l'histoire des trois forts étudiés. Ils indiquent qu'ils furent érigés au cours d'un bref intervalle dans la seconde partie du sixième siècle, une période de conflit entre les royaumes nubiens qui est décrite par l'historien contemporain Jean d'Éphèse.

Sudan and Nubia, 2018

SAHARA-SEGRATE-, 2006

The Power of Walls - Fortifications in Ancient Northeastern Africa. Proceedings of the International Workshop held at the University of Cologne 4th - 7th August 2011 (Colloquium Africanum vol 5, Jesse F., Vogel C. (ed)) , 2013

Antiquité Tardive, 2013

Les fermes fortifiées et les autres sites pareillement défendus marquaient les paysages de l'Afrique du Nord au cours de l'Antiquité Tardive. Leur présence a été relevée dans toutes les provinces romaines de l'Afrique du Nord, même dans les zones au-delà des frontières, comme le coeur de la contrée des Garamantes dans le Fezzan (Sud-Ouest de la Libye). Huit types de fortifications sont ici définis afin de servir de base à un réexamen de la diffusion des fortifications rurales publiées à la suite des principales prospections archéologiques conduites dans ces régions. On constate de nettes prédominances régionales (par exemple les villages fortifiés en Numidie, les temples et mausolées convertis en maisons carrées dans la steppe tunisienne et les églises fortifiées en Cyrénaïque). Toutefois, dans presque tous les régions, les sites fortifiés jouent un rôle essentiel dans le hiérarchie des établissements. En Tripolitaine et au Fezzan, par exemple, ces sites fortifiés sont majoritaires. Les constructions le plus précoces sont datées du 2e siècle après J.-C. et leur occupation a continué jusqu'à l'époque islamique, mais, en Libye au moins, le pic des constructions se situe au cours du 4e siècle. Bien que certains sites fortifiés s'inspirent de modèles militaires, on soutient l'hypothèse que loin d'être stimulé par l'armée romaine, ce phénomène de protection doit être interprété dans un contexte de faiblesse de l'autorité centrale et d'essor de l'indépendance régionale. Fortified farms and other fortified sites were a key component of the Late Antique landscapes of North Africa. Their presence has been noted in all the Roman provinces in North Africa and in areas beyond the frontier such as the Garamantian heartlands of Fazzan (south-west Libya). Eight broad morphological types are proposed and are the basis for a review of the distribution of rural fortifications from all major archaeological surveys. There are strong regional preferences (e.g. fortified villages in Numidia, temples and mausolea converted into block houses in the Tunisian steppe and fortified churches in Cyrenaica). However, in almost all areas fortified sites were important elements in the settlement hierarchy and in Tripolitania and Fazzan, for instance, they were the dominant settlement form. The earliest constructions have been dated to the 2nd century AD and their development continued into the Islamic period, but. In Libya at least, there was a peak in construction in the 4th century. Although some of the types of fortified site seem to follow military models, It is suggested that rather than simple emulation of the Roman army, these fortifications should be seen in the context of a weakening central authority and growing regional independence.

Sudan & Nubia, 2017

The Power of Walls, 2013

Proceedings of the 22nd International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies Ruse, Bulgaria, September 2012 (L. Vagalinski - N. Sharankov eds.), 333-340, 2015