About the situation in Sudan

Our recent five-week season in Sudan in February and March was very impressive on many levels – I will report on this elsewhere on this blog. Today I am delighted that the Austrian Academy of Sciences has published an interview with me about the situation on the ground.

In this interview, I describe some of my impressions of everyday life in a war-torn country, explain why the conflict is far more than a ‘battle between two generals’ – and what archaeological research can do for the future of the country.

Sudan must not be ignored. The cultural heritage is under threat, but also the drone attacks and killings continue, despite of the liberation of the capital Khartoum. We need international support and joint efforts at many levels, including supporting NCAM in assessing the looting in the Sudan National Museum.

In focus: Napatan coronation ceremonies

After this week’s DiverseNile Seminar by Patrizia Heindl on the mysterious fire dogs (for those who missed it: it was recorded and the video is available online), I am delighted to announce the upcoming seminar.

Our dear friend and colleague El-Hassan Ahmed Mohamed will be speaking about his long-time research on Napatan royal stelae and their inscriptions.

El-Hassan will address the most important ritual event in the kingdom of Kush: the coronation of the king, which generally took place first in a great public spectacle at Napata (Jebel Barkal).  We know that this ceremony was then repeated on  a smaller  scale at other Amun temples like for example at Kawa. Many questions about Napatan and Meroitic kingship remain unanswered, and the study of the most important ritual event is of great importance.

El-Hassan will review all the information concerning the royal coronation as described in the royal Kushite stelae, including questions about the royal succession.

I am very much looking forward to this DiverseNile seminar, which will present the research of a distinguished Sudanese colleague who carried out his work in exile in Cairo during the war. We must be grateful to him and so many others for continuing their work despite all the difficulties. And especially grateful that they share it with us. Don’t miss El-Hassan’s next lecture!