Appeal of th Sudanese Authorities
EThe Republic of The Sudan
Ministry of Tourism & National Heritage
National Corporation for Antiquities & Museums
(NCAM)
Merowe Dam Archaeological Salvage
Project
(MDASP)
Appeal for rescuing a piece of
Man’s cultural heritage
In the name of the Government of
the Sudan, I would like to invite all experts and International
Institutions specialized in the fields of archaeology, history,
ethnography, preservation and related sciences to contribute
to the rescuing of sites endangered by the construction
of a dam near the IVth Cataract of the Nile (Merowe Dam).
The participating Institutions will benefit from the following:
* Exemption of fees for the duration of work in the region.
* Exemption of fees for the regular study concessions of
the mission for two successive seasons after the end of
the rescue campaign.
* NCAM will try its best to solve any logistic problems.
* According to chapter III, article 28(b) of the Antiquities
Protection Ordinance (1999), institutions participating
in the salvage project will have the right to own a representative
portion of their discoveries (objects).
Please find herewith the essential information about this
campaign, prepared by Dr. Salah M. Ahmed, the Project Field
Director. We are confident that there will be a positive
response from the International Scientific Community, which
has always been a great help for all our Salvage projects
since the Unesco Nubian Campaign of the sixties of the last
century.
Hassan .H. Idriss
Director general (NCAM)
Project general Director
The Republic of the Sudan
Ministry of Tourism & National Heritage
National Corporation for Antiquities & Museums
(NCAM)
Merowe Dam Archaeological Salvage
Project
(MDASP)
The idea of building a dam at the
IVth Cataract of the Nile dates to the period of the Anglo-Egyptian
administration in the Sudan (1943). It was previously known
as the Hamdab Dam and recently re-named “Merowe”
after a small island of which the northern part is going
to be cut- through by the structure of the dam itself. Most
of the local inhabitants pronounce the name of this island
as “Mirowy”.
For various reasons the project was not realised during
the previous 50 years. The present government has considered,
since it came to power in 1989, this dam as a project of
top priority, since it will create enough hydroelectric
power (1250 mg/w) to develop many sectors of the national
economy.
Location, time and impact:
After many studies made by expert
international institutions and companies, the Government
of Sudan came to the decision to build a single dam, crossing
the island of Mirowy and located about 26km upstream from
the pyramids of Nuri. The completion of the project is scheduled
to be achieved in August 2007.
The highest water (during flood season) will be around 300m
above sea level. This will result in a strip of about 170km
upstream of the dam being inundated. A lake approximately
4km wide will be formed immediately behind the dam. This
will result in the dislocation of more than 48000 people
from their homes.
MDASP
The aim of this project is to rescue
archaeological sites endangered by the construction of Merowe
Dam. The realization of this dam will affect a considerable
number of archaeological sites to varying degrees:-
i) Sites which are going to be either destroyed by the engineering
activities at the dam site or covered by the waters of the
lake upstream. This will include a strip of about 170km
on both banks of the Nile together with tens of islands.
ii) Sites which are going to be destroyed by the building
of houses and digging of irrigation canals in the resettlement
areas.
iii) Sites which are going to be affected by the construction
of the power transmission lines.
vi) Although the monumental sites of the Napatan Region
will not be directly affected by these activities, NCAM
is concerned with the expected environmental changes. These
sites include the famous Pharaonic and Napato–Meroitic
towns and cemeteries at Gebel Barkal, Nuri, Sanam, El-Kurru,
Hillat El-Arab, the Post-Meroitic tumuli of Zuma, the Christian
monastery of Ghazali and the later strongholds at Merowe
East, Kagabi, El-Datti and may be other sites located further
downstream.
General results of recent
work:
Many campaigns to the region were organized during the last
13 years. These are principally:
. Campaigns by NCAM on both banks of the Nile and on some
islands. One of these campaigns was directed by a Unesco
expert (Prof. Jean Leclant).
. The University of Rome in the downstream portions of the
region.
. An assessment of the impact of the dam on archaeological
sites made by Dr. K. Grzymski for Monenco, the Canadian
Company responsible for the feasibility study of the project.
. The Sudan Archaeological Research Society (SARS) conducted
surveys and test excavations on the left bank of the Nile
(Dar el-Arab to Kerbikan).
. The Mission of the Archaeological Museum of Gdansk (Poland)
surveyed the right bank and conducted test and rescue excavations.
These activities have thrown more light on the archaeological
potential of the region and resulted in the recording of
hundreds of sites. They consist of concentrations of cemeteries
and isolated tombs, rock drawings of various periods, remains
of settlements, mainly of later periods (Christian) and
monumental fortresses of the Medieval period. The various
surveys have shown a high density of Post- Meroitic and
Christian remains. However the discovery of vast sites of
the Kerma period on the right bank indicates that future
investigations may be very fruitful in finding considerable
remains of all the periods of the country’s history.
A coordination of efforts of the few missions engaged in
the region to evaluate the previous results and to formulate
a working program for the coming seasons is highly recommended.
The
Actual situation
Preliminary preparation for the construction of the Dam
have already started:
* The first resettlement area (El-Multaga) is located at
about 40km to the south of Debba. The resettlement program
here consists of the building of two villages and a complex
of administrative premises to run a vast agricultural scheme.
This area is reserved for the resettlement of about 8% of
the dislocated population; the inhabitants of the villages
which are going to be directly affected by the engineering
activities at the dam site. They should move to their new
home before the end of this year.
A campaign (2001-2002) have been organized by NCAM in collaboration
with the French Archaeological Section (SFDAS) to rescue
antiquities of the area of El-Multaga (13000 feddan: about
30940 hectares). The operation resulted in the recording
of over 100 concentrations of prehistoric sites together
with a Christian settlement, near the Nile, in a location
which had been chosen by the Ministry of Irrigation for
the installation of the new pump station of the resettlement
project.
Further upstream, roads on both banks of the Nile leading
to the dam site from Kereima and Merowe, together with a
railway linking the dam with the existing line on the right
bank are being built. A small township for the engineers
and later, for the administration of the dam and the power
station is under construction. The beginning of the engineering
work for the dam itself is planned in March 2003.
The National Corporation For Antiquities & Museums (NCAM)
have organized a 6 month campaign (2001-2002) to rescue
sites endangered by the engineering activities, on the left
bank, over a distance of about 8 kilometers. The result
of this campaign is the recording and testing of tens of
sites ranging from prehistoric settlements, graves of pre-
Napatan, Post – Meroitic, Christian and others of
undetermined dates. Many rock drawings of various periods
have also been recorded. These are mainly drawings of animals
(camels, donkeys, and horse), boats and crosses. The campaign
included, also, the excavation of a big kom on the Island
of Mirowy containing 10 Christian graves on the surface
and an earlier Post- Meroitic burial at the bottom; in addition
to houses of the Christian period. The surface of this Island
has also yielded rare Prehistoric tools. The mission of
the Archaeological Museum of Gdansk (Poland) covered the
equivalent area on the right bank.
The future work:
During the coming five years, intensive
archaeological work is needed in the lake area extended
upstream from the dam site, along the power transmission
lines, in the new resettlement areas and on the sites of
the Napatan Region:
a) The lake sites:
As we have already noted, the Merowe
Dam (65m high) will affect the villages over a distance
of about 170 kilometers. The new lake will have a maximum
width of about 4 kilometers including the actual channel.
left
bank :
* NCAM will continue its investigations from the Dam site
to Dar el–Arab (24km).
* The Sudan Archaeological Research Society (SARS) will
keep its concession in the region between Dar el-Arab and
Kerbikan (40km).
Right bank:
* The Mission of the Archaeological Museum of Gdansk (Poland)
will continue its rescue program between the dam site and
the fortress of el- Raidab.
* According to the Dam program, these areas should be cleared
before June 2006.
Archaeological Missions are invited to contribute to the
rescue of sites upstream from the above- mentioned concessions.
Applicants can specify their preference: i.e. left bank,
right bank, islands…. etc. Specialised investigations
in the whole region (i.e. study of prehistoric remains,
full recording of fortresses, etc) are also a possibility
to be discussed with the holders of the different concessions.
b)
The power transmission lines:
Five lines are going to be installed:
1) Dam site – Omdurman
2) Dam site – Atbara
3) Dam site – Dongola
4) Atbara- Khartoum North (through the Butana)
5) Atbara- Port- Sudan.
NCAM has agreed with the Dam administration
to undertake the survey of these lines at the moment of
their demarcation on the ground (2003). Using this method
the contractors can avoid the destruction of ancient remains
and less rescue excavations will be needed. This has already
been experienced in “road” and “ pipe-line
“ archaeology.
c) The resettlement program:
In addition to El-Multaga, three
other resettlement areas will be prepared for the dislocated
population of the region:
1) The lower reaches of Wadi Muggadam will be prepared for
the resettlement of the people of the region of Amri. The
project will cover an area of 35000 feddans (about 83300
hectares). This is scheduled to be realized in 2003.
2) Wadi El–Makabrab (24km south of Atbara) will accommodate
part of the “Manasirs”. The project covers an
area of 42000 feddans (about 99960 hectares). The realization
of this project is planned to the year 2004.
3) Some of the “ Manasirs” will be resettled
on the banks of the new lake, probably in the region of
El-Kab Station No 10 (about 40km downstream from Abu Hamad)
. This project has not yet been precisely defined.
d) The Napata Region :
Although the sites of the Napatan
Region are not going to be affected directly by the construction
of the dam, expert advice concerning the expected environmental
changes (i.e. water table) is needed. The National Corporation
for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM) have submitted a nomination
file for the inclusion of Gebel Barkal , el-Kurru, Zuma,
Nuri and Sanam on the World Heritage List. A Unesco expert
visited these sites (last September) to evaluate their state
of preservation and the integrity of their landscape. The
final decision will be taken in a meeting to be held in
China on June 23, 2003.
El - Multaga Museum:
The National Corporation for Antiquities & Museums (NCAM)
and the Merowe Dam Implementation Unit are planning to create
a museum at the first resettlement area (El-Multaga) for
the preservation and exhibition of the archaeological and
ethnographical wealth of the IVth Cataract.
Publications:
All missions are free to choose
the language and style for their publications. However,
the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM)
would like to have a collective volume containing the general
results of the work of all missions participating in the
rescue project. This should be presented in English (with
an Arabic translation), and to be realized immediately after
the end of the campaign (2008). The final reports should
be published, on the latest, five years after the end of
the field activities.
Note:
The National Corporation for Antiquities
& Museums would prefer the concentration of efforts
on the less represented chapters of the country’s
history in the region (i.e. prehistoric, Kerma, pharaonic
and Napato-Meroitic periods).
Dr.
Salah Mohamed Ahmed
Field work Director (NCAM)
Project field Director
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