The Italian Archaeological Expedition in the Sudan - Report for 2009

The 2009 season of the Italian Mission at Jebel Barkal was carried out between February 11th and 25th. . . .

Our goals were several: first, to continue excavations of two monuments of special interest for our ongoing research; second, to repair and strengthen the walls of both these structures, in order to protect newly discovered fragile architectural remains and to repair older restorations; and third, to reorganize our living situation at Karima, in order to reduce costs as much as possible.

In B2400 we continued excavating in the area near the middle of its southern side. This was the only side which appeared to have no access in correspondence with an Ionic peristyle court recognized inside the edifice. The area outside was severely disturbed in antiquity; a huge mud brick wall joined by other smaller mud brick walls was observed at a lower level, which have nothing to do with B2400. However in the sand another burial and a bronze pin was found.

In the interior of B 2400 there was only a thin layer of sand, so that the network of walls could be traced rather easily and quickly in spite of shallow holes in the ancient masonry, and its ancient layout could be surveyed throughout. Some new rooms were uncovered, with a lot of Meroitic ceramics inside (many of them with beautiful painted motifs); the walls herein were m. 1,60 wide, suggesting the original existence of an upper floor. Many bones near the surface all over the area point to its use as a late cemetery, extending as far as the Jebel. However the surface burials were mostly destroyed when the area was leveled to become a passage way.