The remnants of a once-thriving city were scattered around a small chamber that was concealed beneath the northern Sudanese desert. The room was covered with portraits of well-known people, but there were more questions than answers there.
Archaeologists excavating centuries-old houses in Old Dongola found a hole leading to complex with “unique” Christian paintings, photos show. Photo from the UMMA Archaeological Project in Old Dongola and the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Warsaw
During excavations at Old Dongola, a millennia-old city on the bank of the Nile river in northern Sudan, the chamber was discovered. According to the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Warsaw, the urban ruins served as the capital city of the Makurian kingdom from the fifth to the fourteenth centuries.
According to scholars, the city grew under the Makurian monarchs and became a significant urban and Christian religious center. The Makurian monarchs constructed a gigantic castle, a royal palace, multi-story residences, pottery studios, churches, and a sizable structure that may have served as a throne hall.
Old Dongola merged with the Muslim Sultanate of Funj in the 15th century after the monarchs' rule came to an end. Researchers claim that 300 years later, the city was abandoned.
According to a press statement issued on April 5 by the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Warsaw, archaeologists were looking through houses from the city's Funj period when they discovered an aperture under a floor. This tiny opening is visible in Facebook photos.
An archaeologists works to preserve the paintings in the underground chamber. Photo from the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Warsaw
As stated in the press release, after crawling down the hole, researchers discovered a small, bricked-up structure that was painted on. The ages-old room was a "surprise" discovery, according to archaeologists.
Three "unique" wall murals depicting Christian motifs were found in the little room, according to the press release.
A artwork "of the Virgin Mary" was found on one of the chamber's side walls, according to researchers. Photos depict a woman carrying a book and a crucifix while dressed in black robes. She has a halo of bright yellow around her head.
Painting of the Virgin Mary on the side wall of the chamber. Photo from the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Warsaw
According to experts, this picture does not represent "Mary in Nubian art" in a "typical" manner.
According to the press statement, there was a painting of Jesus Christ on the other side wall. The man person is holding a book in one hand. The other hand he uses to make "a gesture of blessing," according to the study.
Experts noted that the central painting was likewise unusual. The central character, a Makurian ruler, is seen bowing to Jesus and kissing his hand. The figure on the right is Jesus, who is perched on a cloud. The announcement stated that the left-hand figure represents the archangel Michael, who spreads his wings around the group and supports the king.
A scenario with this "dynamism and intimacy" "finds no parallels in Nubian painting," according to specialists.
An Old Nubian inscription can also be seen on the main artwork. The inscription cites a Makurian "king named David and a plea to God for protection of the city," most likely the city of Dongola, according to Vincent van Gerven Oei, an authority on this language.
The center painting showing the Makurian king David (center) bowing to Jesus (right) with the support of the archangel Michael (left). Photo from the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Warsaw
One of the final kings of Christian Makuria, Makurian King David "marked the beginning of the end of the kingdom," according to historians. He spearheaded an assault on Egypt, which in retaliation took control of Dongola.
The relationship between these historical occurrences and the artworks is still a mystery to specialists. These paintings' age and whether they date from before or after King David's reign are unknown to archaeologists.
According to the release, the subterranean room might also be connected to a nearby collection of ruins. According to academics, the neighboring ruins are those of "the Great Church of Jesus," which was likely Dongola's cathedral and the most significant church in the Makurian empire.
However, the chamber still has many unanswered questions. In the fall, research at Old Dongola will continue.
The distance between Old Dongola and Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, is around 260 kilometres.
