View source for Old Dongola

{{Short description|Sudanese human settlement}}
{{Infobox ancient site
|name = Old Dongola
|native_name = دنقلا العجوز
|alternate_name =
|image = Church of the Granite Columns 2007-10-03 02.jpg
|alt =
|caption = Church of the Granite Columns in Old Dongola
|map_type = Sudan
|map_alt = Location in Sudan
|map_size = 250px
|coordinates = {{coord|18|13|23|N|30|44|38|E|display=inline,title}}
|location = [[Northern state, Sudan|Northern State]], [[Sudan]]
|region = [[Nubia]]
|type = Settlement
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|archaeologists =
|condition = In ruins
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'''Old Dongola''' ([[Old Nubian]]: ⲧⲩⲛⲅⲩⲗ, ''Tungul''; {{langx|ar|دنقلا العجوز}}, ''Dunqulā al-ʿAjūz'') is a deserted Nubian town in what is now [[Northern state, Sudan|Northern State]], [[Sudan]], located on the east bank of the [[Nile]] opposite the [[Wadi Howar]]. An important city in medieval [[Nubia]], and the departure point for [[Caravan (travellers)|caravan]]s west to [[Darfur]] and [[Kordofan]], from the fourth to the fourteenth century Old Dongola was the capital of the [[Makuria]]n state. A [[Poland|Polish]] archaeological team has been excavating the town since 1964.
The urban center of the population moved downstream 80&nbsp;km (50 miles) to the opposite side of the Nile during the nineteenth century, becoming the modern [[Dongola]].
== History ==
===Foundation and heyday===
[[Image:Church of the Granite Columns 2007-10-03 01.jpg|thumb|left|The Church of the Granite Columns]]
The archaeological site encompassing Old Dongola has about 200 ha. Its southern part features a citadel and urban buildings, while in the north, splendid suburban residences have been uncovered. There are also cemeteries associated with subsequent phases of the town's functioning, including Islamic domed tombs.
Old Dongola was founded in the fifth century as a fortress. On the citadel, which was the royal residence, numerous palaces and public buildings were located. In the mid-sixth century with the arrival of Christianity it became the capital of Makuria, The town was further expanded, including the area outside the citadel.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Dongola|url=https://pcma.uw.edu.pl/en/2019/04/02/dongola-2/|access-date=2020-06-16|website=pcma.uw.edu.pl}}</ref> Several churches were built. These include, to use the names contemporary archeologists have given them, ''Building X'' and the ''Church with the Stone Pavement''. These two structures were erected about 100 meters apart from the walled town centre, indicating that at this time the town already extended over the original walls of the fortress. ''Building X'' was soon replaced by the ''Old Church''.
[[Image:Dungula plan-engl.png|thumb|Plan of Old Dongola in the Medieval Period]]
In the middle of the seventh century, the two main churches were destroyed, but rebuilt soon after. Building material was taken from the ''Old Church'' and used to repair the city walls. Archeologists believe this destruction is evidence of the [[First Battle of Dongola|First]] (642) and [[Second Battle of Dongola|Second Battles of Dongola]] (652).
[[File:Church dongola (cropped).png|thumb|left|Reconstruction of the ''Cruciform Church'']]
At the end of the seventh Century, the ''Church of the Granite Columns'' was erected over the ''Old Church''. Adorned with 16 granite columns, each with richly decorated granite capitals, the ''Church of the Granite Columns'' perhaps was the cathedral of Old Dongola.
The city's heyday was in the ninth–eleventh centuries, but building activity lasted until the fourteenth century.<ref name=":0" /> The ''Church of the Stone Pavements'' was replaced with the ''[[Cruciform#Cruciform architectural plan|Cruciform Church]]'' at this time. Other buildings in use in Old Dongola at this time include many other churches, at least two palaces, and a sizable monastery on its north side. Several houses were well equipped and had bath rooms and wall paintings.
[[image:Old Dobgola Kingdom of Makuria, Throne hall (2) (34019327053).jpg|thumb|The Throne Hall building]]
''[[The Book of Knowledge (1348)|The Book of Knowledge]]'', a travelogue compiled by a Spanish monk soon after 1348, mentions that [[Republic of Genoa|Genoese]] merchants had settled in Old Dongola; they may have penetrated there as a consequence of the commercial treaty of 1290 between Genoa and Egypt.<ref>O.G.S. Crawford, [https://www.jstor.org/stable/1789985 "Some Medieval Theories about the Nile"], ''[[Geographical Journal]]'', '''114''' (1949), pp. 7f</ref>
=== The Great Monastery of St Anthony ===
About 1.5&nbsp;km to the north-east of the citadel lies the so-called Kom H where the monastery was uncovered. According to the inscription it is dedicated to St Anthony the Great but the Monastery of the Holy Trinity is also referred to in literature.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Godlewski, Włodzimierz|url=https://pcma.uw.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Dongola_guide_book.pdf|title=Dongola : ancient Tungul : archaeological guide|publisher=Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology. University of Warsaw|year=2013|isbn=978-83-903796-6-1|oclc=912866350}}</ref> It was probably one of the first Christian building projects in Dongola.<ref name=":2">Godlewski, W., Dzierzbicka, D., Łajtar, A. (eds.). [https://www.wuw.pl/product-pol-10832-Dongola-2015-2016-Fieldwork-conservation-and-site-management-PDF.html Dongola 2015–2016. Fieldwork, Conservation and Site Management, (=PCMA Excavation Series 5), Warszawa: PCMA, WUW 2018], DOI https://doi.org/10.31338/uw.9788323534877</ref> Archbishop of Dongola, Georgios, who died in 1113, was buried in one of the crypts in the church. The inscription on his funerary stela indicates that St Anthony the Great was the patron of the monastery.<ref name=":1" /> In the rich assemblage of texts in Greek, Coptic, and Old Nubian found in the archbishop's crypt,<ref name=":0" /> a dedication to the Holy Trinity also appears.<ref name=":1" />
Approximately 100 compositions, dated to the eleventh–thirteenth century, were uncovered on the walls of the monastery buildings.<ref name=":0" /> Many of these paintings are unique, both from the artistic and iconographical point of view.<ref name=":1" /> They depicted Christ, Mary, the Apostles, scenes from the Old and New Testament, as well as dignitaries.<ref name=":0" />
===The Throne Hall===
{{Main|Throne Hall of Dongola}}
The monumental representative building interpreted as the [[Throne Hall of Dongola|Throne Hall]] of the Makurian kings is a massive defence-like building of 28 m by 18 m by 12 m situated on a rocky spur to the east from the fortress. It was built in the 9th century.<ref>Artur Obłuski, Włodzimierz Godlewski, Wojciech Kołątaj, Stanisław Medeksza, Cristobal Calaforra-Rzepka; The Mosque Building in Dongola. Conservation and Revitalization project; Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 22 (Research 2010); 2013; pp.248–272; {{ISSN|1234-5415}} (Print), {{ISSN|2083-537X}} (Online)</ref> The building had two stories; the height of the walls was 6.5 m on the ground floor and 3.5 m on the upper floor.<ref name=":2" /> In 1317 it was turned into a [[mosque]], an event which is preserved in a foundation stela erected by [[Sayf al-Din Abdullah Barshambu]]. The ceremonial Throne Hall on the first floor was turned into a prayer room. The mosque remained in use until 1969, when the building was converted in a historic monument.<ref>M. Elfasi (editor); General History of Africa III. Africa from the Seventh to the Eleventh Century; 1988; pp.199-201; {{ISBN|92-3-101 709-8}}</ref>
===Decline===
During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries the town was in decline. It was attacked by Arabs several times. A surviving inscription erected in Old Dongola bears the date of 1317, is commonly understood to be the record of a military expedition sent by the Sultan of Egypt to place his nominee Abdullah, perhaps a Muslim Nubian, on the throne.<ref>P. L. and M. Shinnie, [https://www.jstor.org/stable/180167 "New Light on Medieval Nubia"], ''[[Journal of African History]]'', '''6''' (1965), p. 265</ref> The royal court left Dongola in 1364.<ref name=":0" />
[[image:Old Dongola graveyard (34829443985).jpg|thumb|The Islamic cemetery with qubbas]]
Under the [[Funj people|Funj]], Old Dongola became the capital of the Northern provinces. The French traveller {{ill|Charles-Jacques Poncet|fr}} visited the city in 1699, and in his memoirs he described it as located on the slope of a sandy hill. His description of Old Dongola continues:
::The houses are ill built, and the streets half deserted and fill'd with heaps of sand, occasion'd by floods from the mountains. The castle is in the very center of the town. It is large and spacious, but the fortifications are inconsiderable. It keeps in awe the Arabians, who are masters of the open country.<ref>Charles Jacques Poncet in ''The Red Sea and Adjacent Countries'', William Foster, editor (London: [[Hakluyt Society]], 1949), pp. 99f.</ref>
Intensive trade relations with the Far East, as well as Europe, continued in this period.<ref name=":0" /> However, trade declined after the rise of the [[Shaigiya tribe|Shaigiya Confederacy]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Beška |first=Emanuel |date=2020-01-01 |title=SWAN SONG IN THE NILE VALLEY: THE MAMLUK STATELET IN DONGOLA (1812 – 1820) |url=https://www.academia.edu/44611947/SWAN_SONG_IN_THE_NILE_VALLEY_THE_MAMLUK_STATELET_IN_DONGOLA_1812_1820_ |journal=Asian and African Studies}}</ref> In 1812, the [[Mamluk]]s fled to Sudan to escape [[Muhammad Ali's rise to power|purges in Egypt]] and conquered Old Dongola. They founded the city of [[New Dongola]] downriver, which grew in size, shifting the economic and trade center of the region away from Old Dongola.<ref name=":3" />
===Islamic cemetery===
A large Islamic cemetery with numerous [[qubba]]s, erected in the 17th century, testify to the importance of Old Dongola also in postmedieval times.
== Polish archaeological expedition to Old Dongola ==
Polish archaeological and conservation works in Dongola were initiated by [[Kazimierz Michałowski]]. The [[Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology|Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology University of Warsaw]] has conducted research at the site since 1964, with the support of the Sudanese National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums. The first head of the expedition was architect Antoni Ostrasz. Later, [[Stefan Jakobielski]] and Włodzimierz Godlewski directed the works for 60 years.<ref name=":0" /> Since 2017, the "UMMA: Urban Metamorphosis of the community of a Medieval African capital city" project ([[European Research Council|ERC]] Starting Grant), headed by Artur Obłuski, has been active in studies of the youngest layers of the site.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UW archaeologist with the ERC grant|url=https://en.uw.edu.pl/uw-archaeologist-with-the-erc-grant/}}</ref>
In May 2021, archaeologists led by Obłuski announced the discovery of a new church's apse decorated with paintings describing two rows of colossal figures, as well as an attached wall and the nearby dome of a large tomb in Old Dongola, which might have been a cathedral and the largest known church from medieval Nubia.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C87989%2Cnewly-discovered-church-dongola-could-have-been-cathedral-say-archaeologists.html |title=Newly discovered church in Dongola could have been a cathedral, say archaeologists |website=Science in Poland |date=31 May 2021 }}</ref> Obłuski reported: "The apse is about 9 meters deep. This means that the eastern part of the building has been preserved to the impressive height of three floors of a typical block of flats. And this gives a great chance that there are more paintings and inscriptions under our feet, just like in Faras".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Discovery of the remains of the largest church in Old Dongola {{!}} University of Warsaw|url=https://en.uw.edu.pl/discovery-of-the-remains-of-the-largest-church-in-old-dongola/|access-date=2021-09-01|website=en.uw.edu.pl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-01|title=Church discovered in Sudan could be medieval cathedral|url=https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/06/church-discovered-in-sudan-could-be-medieval-cathedral/139346|access-date=2021-09-01|website=HeritageDaily – Archaeology News|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Gershon|first=Livia|title=Ruins of Monumental Church Linked to Medieval Nubian Kingdom Found in Sudan|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ruins-large-nubian-church-found-sudan-180978136/|access-date=2021-09-01|website=Smithsonian Magazine|language=en}}</ref> In February 2023, the [[Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology University of Warsaw|Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology]] headed by Obłuski announced the discovery of [[Ancient Egypt]]ian [[hieroglyph]]s inscribed on stone blocks and figural decorations as elements from a [[Pharaoh|Pharaonic]] temple.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Szotek |first=Andrzej |date=2023-02-27 |title=Hieroglyphs discovered in Old Dongola, Sudan |url=https://pcma.uw.edu.pl/en/2023/02/27/egyptian-hieroglyphs-discovered-in-old-dongola-sudan/}}</ref> Further, the Polish archaeologists discovered various unusual wall paintings probably from the thirteenth century. One of these paintings is a portrait of the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]], and another depicts a scene with the [[Michael (archangel)|archangel Michael]] and a Nubian king. Holding the king in his arms, the archangel presents him to Jesus sitting on a cloud and extending a hand for the king to kiss. “This is completely uncommon for Byzantine Christian art, which generally does not show a lot of interaction or contact between mortals and immortals,” said team leader Artur Obłuski.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weiss |first=Daniel |date=January–February 2024 |title=A Painted Prayer - Archaeology Magazine |url=https://www.archaeology.org/issues/536-2401/features/11939-sudan-old-dongola-medieval-paintings |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=www.archaeology.org}}</ref>
==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
== See also ==
* [[2021 in archaeology]]
== References ==
* Godlewski, W. [https://pam-journal.pl/resources/html/article/details?id=189727 Archaeological and architectural evidence of social change in 13th–17th century Dongola, Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 27/1 (2018), 617–643]
* Godlewski, W., Dzierzbicka, D., Łajtar, A. (eds). [https://wuw.pl/data/include/cms/Dongola_2015-2016_Fieldwork_2018.pdf ''Dongola 2015–2016. Fieldwork, conservation and site management'' (=''PCMA Excavation Series'' 5). Warsaw: PCMA, WUW 2018]
* Godlewski, W. and Dzierzbicka, D. (eds). ''Dongola 2012–2014. Fieldwork, conservation and site management'' (=''PCMA Excavation Series'' 3). Warsaw: PCMA UW 2015
* Obłuski, A., Godlewski, W., Kołątaj, W., Medeksza, S., and Calaforra-Rzepka, C. [https://www.pcma.uw.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/pam/PAM_2010_XXII/PAM_22_Dongola_Obluski_Godlewski_et_alii.pdf The Mosque Building in Dongola. Conservation and revitalization project. ''Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean'', 22 (2013), 248–272.]
* Martens-Czarnecka, M. ''The wall paintings from the Monastery on Kom H in Dongola'' (=''Nubia'' 3; ''Dongola'' 3; ''PAM Monograph Series'' 3). Warsaw: PCMA; Warsaw University Press 2011
* Jakobielski, S. and Scholz, P.O. (eds). ''Dongola-Studien: 35 Jahre polnischer Forschungen im Zentrum des makuritischen Reiches'' (=''Bibliotheca Nubica et Aethiopica'' 7). Warsaw: ZAŚ PAN 2001
* Żurawski, B.The Monastery on Kom H in Old Dongola. The monks' graves. A preliminary report. ''Nubica'', 4–5 (1999), 201–256
== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://pcma.uw.edu.pl/en/2019/04/02/dongola-2/ Old Dongola] – Polish archaeological expedition to Old Dongola
* [https://virtualnubia.uw.edu.pl/old-dongola-monastery/ Monastery on Kom H in Old Dongola] - Virtual reconstruction
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:History of Nubia]]
[[Category:Makuria]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Sudan]]
[[Category:Populated places in Northern State (Sudan)]]