An isolated burial in Sudan has revealed the first evidence of an unknown funerary ritual practiced in a little-known African kingdom some 4,000 years ago, a new study has found.
In the grave, archaeologists found ceramic vessels containing charred plant and wood remains, animal bones and insect fragments, all of which the team believes were the remains of a funeral feast.
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In a study published Nov. 13 in the journal Azania, researchers described the burial of a middle-aged man they discovered during an archaeological survey project in the Bayuda Desert in northeastern Sudan in 2018. The tomb has been dated between 2050 BC and 1750 BC, meaning that the man was likely a member of the Kerma Kingdom, an early Nubian civilization adjacent to ancient Egypt. At the top of the burial was an oval mound of earth, where archaeologists found the skeleton of a man, two ceramic vessels placed behind his head, and 82 blue-glazed ceramic disc beads around his neck.
“The tomb is not particularly impressive, and the grave goods such as beads and ceramic vessels are commonplace,” Panner said, all of which suggest the man did not have an elite social status. However, “the contents of one of the vessels were unusual, possibly the remains of a funeral-related fire,” he said.
Researchers discovered a treasure trove of charred remains of plants, wood, animals, insects and coprolites (fossilized feces) inside a medium-sized ceramic jug. Most of the wood was found to have come from acacia trees, and the researchers identified two types of legumes (possibly lentils and beans) and grains among the charred plant remains. The pitcher also contained several weevils, which may have taken hold of the plant in ancient times.
“Since the containers show no signs of burning, these remains were probably simply inserted into the containers along with the animal bone fragments found,” the researchers explained in their study. “The bones in question are evidence that they were probably consumed during a funeral, some of which were then thrown into the fire.”
Plant remains also indicate that at the time the man was buried, this geographic region was a more humid savannah-type environment compared to today’s open desert. “Even seemingly unassuming sites like this isolated burial site may provide important clues for reconstructing past environments and climates,” the researchers wrote.
Another container found at the burial was placed upside down near the person, but was empty, the researchers noted.
This burial is the first evidence of a funeral held in the Kerma Kingdom 4,000 years ago. However, the lack of similar known burials could indicate a complex cultural exchange process in the region, and means more research is needed to understand the trade of goods and ideas in ancient Africa, the researchers wrote.
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