ancientafricaproject-blog

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References

Manzo, A. amanzo@unior. i. (2017). Architecture, Power, and Communication: Case Studies from Ancient Nubia. African Archaeological Review, 34(1), 121–143.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10437-016-9239-6

Mendoza, R. G. (2018). Kerma. Salem Press Encyclopedia. Retrieved fromhttp://ezproxy.purchase.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=96411417&site=eds-live

Lloyd, C. (2018). Kerma Kingdom Rules Nubia. Salem Press Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.purchase.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=89454270&site=eds-live

Darnell, J. C. (2018). Kerma Kingdom Develops and Dominates Lower Nubia. Salem Press Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.purchase.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=89454269&site=eds-live

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Introduction

Throughout time there has been so many different cultures with many different practices and to this day it's still growing. In this Blog I will be talking about one culture in particular with the occasional mention of a few other cultures who are associated and relevant to my topic. The group of people i will mainly be talking about is the city of Kerma which is in the kingdom of Kush that's located in nubia. For perspective on where nubia’s location on the map was, it was under Egypt near the nile river, Today the location of ancient nubia is known as Sudan. I am going to touch on the culture of Kerma but more specifically on how they buried their deceased. Their burial techniques and styles will vary depending on the person's wealth and status in their society.

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Pictured is Nubia and one of its capitals Kerma. Kerma was very successful agriculturally, it had great farmland with plentiful grassland which was great for feeding and attracting animals. Where Kerma was set up allowed them to have access and control over the river, with this also came the trading of goods. The kingdom of Kush consisted of four crucial cities Kerma, Meroe, and Napata. They were all along the Nile river, this made it easier for trade and communication inside of the kingdom of Kush. The Nile also opened up vital trading routes throughout the eastern part of Africa. Mining was a large part of the economy and this part of Africa produced the majority of gold than anyone in the world at the time. Trade with Egypt was what the kingdom of Kush's economy depended on. Items traded were ivory, ebony, gold, certain animals and their skins/fur and other fascinating goods that were hard to get elsewhere. The kingdom of Kush played a large role in Egypt’s economy, egyptians would trade goods they got from nubians to people who live in the mediterranean. Because of Kerma’s location they were in between Egypt and the southern parts of Kush which gave them more power over trade.

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Ancient Kerma was located on the continent of Africa and what is now today the country known as Sudan. As Nubia formed and the city of Kerma formed there was pre- Kerma that was from 3500-2500 BC, Early Kerma that was from 2500-2050 BC, Middle Kerma which was from 2050-1750 BC, Classic Kerma that was from 1750- 1580 BC, Final Kerma 1580-1500 Bc, and finally Late Kerma which lasted from 1500 to about 1100 BC.

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The city of Kerma’s recreated city plan!

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The elite had ox skulls placed around the tumulus. Oxen had a large impact on the people of Kermas economy. The relationship with cattle was important in the city of Kerma there was depictions of cattle painted on murals. People of Kermas dietary regimen consisted mostly of meat for example they mostly ate cattle, goats, and sheep. As the Kerma culture progressed and grew cattle became scarce. Ox skulls were used in funerary practices for the wealthy because of the importance the oxen had in their culture.

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The burials of the people from Kerma were really well preserved because of the exceptionally dry weather in the region.The Kerma cemetery consisted of about 20,000 burials.

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The city of Kerma was the second most powerful Nubian state. About 2000 people lived in the city of Kerma. Kerma was known for their mud brick structures. In the city of Kerma lay a large temple made out of mud brick, this was called The deffufa, it contained multiple rooms that had trade goods such as beads, pottery, and raw materials. The deffufa had multiple rooms but another room they sought to have had was a metal workshop, a market place, and a workshop/factory. The deffufa was said to be 89 by 179 feet at the base and was as tall as 62 feet, and had 29 foot thick walls. It was said that many aspects of Kermas architecture was inspired by Egypt. It is thought that the deffufa was so large because it played the role as being a  watchtower over the trade that went on in the Nile river, it was said that it was placed in the center of the city. Kerma culture is found by archaeologist for over 200 miles within the city of Kerma.

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Tumulus of Kerma’s burial consisted of a ninety meters in diameter and his body  on the bed laid in the center. There were three hundred people on the floors of the burial chamber, these were considered human sacrifices and there were also many times animals. Having human sacrifices and animals along with pottery and their valuables showed how much power the person had. Many of the three hundred were in poses that seemed that violence had be inflicted upon them. Servants and animals were sacrificed when a person of wealth died because it was thought they would need them to serve them in their afterlife. The people sacrificed were local people many of them had goods on them such as knives. The burial of deceased people who were not sacrificed and died naturally would be placed with their legs bent, heads facing the north and their legs facing the west. If the deceased person had higher status and wealth they would be placed on beds that had ivory figures engraved and placed. Tools and weapons would be buried with warriors such as bow an arrows. Men wore animals skin cloth with beaded belts that had tools on them such as daggers, they also wore head caps that had symbols on them. Women of status were buried with jewelry and hair accessories, and they also wore leather skirts with beads typically sewed into them. Pottery and food would also be buried with them as a sacrificial gift.