Discussion of the contributions for reconstructing the history of the Middle Nile Valley emerging... more Discussion of the contributions for reconstructing the history of the Middle Nile Valley emerging from the ongoing research project in Eastern Su.
Mennat-Allah El Dorry (ed.), Food and Drink in Egypt and Sudan Selected Studies in Archaeology, Culture, and History, 2023
The research project conducted by the Italian Archaeological Expedition to the Eastern Sudan of t... more The research project conducted by the Italian Archaeological Expedition to the Eastern Sudan of the University of Naples “L’Orientale” and associazione Internazionale di Studi sul Mediterraneo e l’Oriente (ISMEO), not only provided crucial evidence for the study of the adoption of the Near Eastern package of crops and domestic animals in the region in the 4th millennium BC, but also for the reconstruction of the process of sorghum domestication in the Sahelian belt, and the spread and adoption of this crop up to India in the 3rd–2nd millennia BC. Investigations also revealed intriguing aspects in the way food was processed and consumed in the region. Recent excavations conducted at the site of Mahal Teglinos (K1) led to the discovery of a food preparation and perhaps consumption area dating to the end of the 3rd millennium BC. These investigations also provided insights into the possible origins of the griddles used to cook sorghum and teff bread respectively in some regions of Sudan and on the Ethio-Eritrean highlands. Moreover, the evidence of the possible consumption of delicatessen imported from Egypt during the First Intermediate Period–early Middle Kingdom was collected in the same assemblage, suggesting that the menu included both local and exotic foodstuff. Archaeological excavations showed that not only food preparation and consumption took place very intensively at Mahal Teglinos (K1), but also that true feasts may have taken place there. Finally, some remarks on the cultural context and the possible social meanings of all this are proposed.
Animals in Religion, Economy and Daily Life of Ancient Egypt and beyond, 2023
The contribution deals with some imaginary creatures occurring in the
Kerma art. Indeed, mythical... more The contribution deals with some imaginary creatures occurring in the Kerma art. Indeed, mythical animals like criosphinx, winged giraffe and hippo with anthropomorphic body and others were represented in the capital city of the kingdom of Kush in Kerma Classique times (ca. 1750-1550 BC). The features of these mythical animals will be described, and their occurrence will be outlined, with specific focus on the contexts where they were represented. Some hypotheses on their meaning and on their relevance in the Kerma ideology and religion will be proposed.
This chapter looks at the role played by the Eastern Desert and its inhabitants in the historical... more This chapter looks at the role played by the Eastern Desert and its inhabitants in the historical processes that affected northeastern Africa in the 1st millennium bce–1st millennium ce. The environmental setting and the factors limiting the present knowledge of the history of the region are outlined. The relevance of the Eastern Desert for the Nile valley regions and, in general, for the ancient world is stressed. The written sources on the region are discussed as well as the available archaeological data. Special emphasis is put on the relations between the inhabitants of the Eastern Desert and those of the Nile valley and on the role they played in the development of states, both in the Nile valley and on the Ethiopian plateau.
La campagne de fouilles menee sur le Biet Giyorghis en 1996, par la Boston University (BU) et l&#... more La campagne de fouilles menee sur le Biet Giyorghis en 1996, par la Boston University (BU) et l'Istituto Universitario Orientale de Naples (IUO) etait consacree a l'etude du site d'Ona Nagast, pres d'Axoum, identifie lors d'une prospection realisee en 1974, comme un grand ensemble d'habitat. Les investigations ont revele des structures de pierre, du materiel ceramique, metallique, lithique, etc. et des ossements fauniques des periodes axoumite ancienne, moyenne et recente
The article presents a review of the architectural and iconographic features of the big decorated... more The article presents a review of the architectural and iconographic features of the big decorated Aksumite stelae in the May Ḥǝǧǧa stelae field at Aksum. Their location in the urban setting of ancient Aksum is scrutinized alongside their ceremonial and ideological function. The origin and meaning of the different features and decorative patterns characterizing the stelae are focused upon. It is suggested that these attributes may reflect ideological traits regarded as crucial by the Askumite kings and the elite in the first centuries CE. Moreover, it is demonstrated how some of these features are rooted in the local traditions, while others are related to the intense interactions the ancient Aksum had with neighbouring regions, such as the Mediterranean area and South Arabia. In particular, a new interpretation is proposed for the very distinctive outline of the top of the monuments: it may have been shaped after a specific type of shield also occurring in Meroitic and Post-Meroitic...
Discussion of the contributions for reconstructing the history of the Middle Nile Valley emerging... more Discussion of the contributions for reconstructing the history of the Middle Nile Valley emerging from the ongoing research project in Eastern Su.
Mennat-Allah El Dorry (ed.), Food and Drink in Egypt and Sudan Selected Studies in Archaeology, Culture, and History, 2023
The research project conducted by the Italian Archaeological Expedition to the Eastern Sudan of t... more The research project conducted by the Italian Archaeological Expedition to the Eastern Sudan of the University of Naples “L’Orientale” and associazione Internazionale di Studi sul Mediterraneo e l’Oriente (ISMEO), not only provided crucial evidence for the study of the adoption of the Near Eastern package of crops and domestic animals in the region in the 4th millennium BC, but also for the reconstruction of the process of sorghum domestication in the Sahelian belt, and the spread and adoption of this crop up to India in the 3rd–2nd millennia BC. Investigations also revealed intriguing aspects in the way food was processed and consumed in the region. Recent excavations conducted at the site of Mahal Teglinos (K1) led to the discovery of a food preparation and perhaps consumption area dating to the end of the 3rd millennium BC. These investigations also provided insights into the possible origins of the griddles used to cook sorghum and teff bread respectively in some regions of Sudan and on the Ethio-Eritrean highlands. Moreover, the evidence of the possible consumption of delicatessen imported from Egypt during the First Intermediate Period–early Middle Kingdom was collected in the same assemblage, suggesting that the menu included both local and exotic foodstuff. Archaeological excavations showed that not only food preparation and consumption took place very intensively at Mahal Teglinos (K1), but also that true feasts may have taken place there. Finally, some remarks on the cultural context and the possible social meanings of all this are proposed.
Animals in Religion, Economy and Daily Life of Ancient Egypt and beyond, 2023
The contribution deals with some imaginary creatures occurring in the
Kerma art. Indeed, mythical... more The contribution deals with some imaginary creatures occurring in the Kerma art. Indeed, mythical animals like criosphinx, winged giraffe and hippo with anthropomorphic body and others were represented in the capital city of the kingdom of Kush in Kerma Classique times (ca. 1750-1550 BC). The features of these mythical animals will be described, and their occurrence will be outlined, with specific focus on the contexts where they were represented. Some hypotheses on their meaning and on their relevance in the Kerma ideology and religion will be proposed.
This chapter looks at the role played by the Eastern Desert and its inhabitants in the historical... more This chapter looks at the role played by the Eastern Desert and its inhabitants in the historical processes that affected northeastern Africa in the 1st millennium bce–1st millennium ce. The environmental setting and the factors limiting the present knowledge of the history of the region are outlined. The relevance of the Eastern Desert for the Nile valley regions and, in general, for the ancient world is stressed. The written sources on the region are discussed as well as the available archaeological data. Special emphasis is put on the relations between the inhabitants of the Eastern Desert and those of the Nile valley and on the role they played in the development of states, both in the Nile valley and on the Ethiopian plateau.
La campagne de fouilles menee sur le Biet Giyorghis en 1996, par la Boston University (BU) et l&#... more La campagne de fouilles menee sur le Biet Giyorghis en 1996, par la Boston University (BU) et l'Istituto Universitario Orientale de Naples (IUO) etait consacree a l'etude du site d'Ona Nagast, pres d'Axoum, identifie lors d'une prospection realisee en 1974, comme un grand ensemble d'habitat. Les investigations ont revele des structures de pierre, du materiel ceramique, metallique, lithique, etc. et des ossements fauniques des periodes axoumite ancienne, moyenne et recente
The article presents a review of the architectural and iconographic features of the big decorated... more The article presents a review of the architectural and iconographic features of the big decorated Aksumite stelae in the May Ḥǝǧǧa stelae field at Aksum. Their location in the urban setting of ancient Aksum is scrutinized alongside their ceremonial and ideological function. The origin and meaning of the different features and decorative patterns characterizing the stelae are focused upon. It is suggested that these attributes may reflect ideological traits regarded as crucial by the Askumite kings and the elite in the first centuries CE. Moreover, it is demonstrated how some of these features are rooted in the local traditions, while others are related to the intense interactions the ancient Aksum had with neighbouring regions, such as the Mediterranean area and South Arabia. In particular, a new interpretation is proposed for the very distinctive outline of the top of the monuments: it may have been shaped after a specific type of shield also occurring in Meroitic and Post-Meroitic...
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domestication in the Sahelian belt, and the spread and adoption of this crop up to India in the 3rd–2nd millennia BC. Investigations also revealed intriguing aspects in the way food was processed and consumed in the region. Recent excavations conducted at the site of Mahal Teglinos (K1) led to the discovery of a food preparation and perhaps consumption area
dating to the end of the 3rd millennium BC. These investigations also provided insights into the possible origins of the griddles used to cook sorghum and teff bread respectively in some regions of Sudan and on the Ethio-Eritrean highlands. Moreover, the evidence of the possible
consumption of delicatessen imported from Egypt during the First Intermediate Period–early Middle Kingdom was collected in the same assemblage, suggesting that the menu included both local and exotic foodstuff. Archaeological excavations showed that not only food preparation and consumption took place very intensively at Mahal Teglinos (K1), but also that true feasts may have taken place there. Finally, some remarks on the cultural context and the possible social meanings of all this are proposed.
Kerma art. Indeed, mythical animals like criosphinx, winged giraffe and hippo with anthropomorphic body and others were represented in the capital city of the kingdom of Kush in Kerma Classique times (ca. 1750-1550 BC). The features of these mythical animals will be described, and their occurrence will be outlined, with specific focus on the contexts where they were represented. Some hypotheses on their meaning and on their relevance in the Kerma ideology and religion will be proposed.
domestication in the Sahelian belt, and the spread and adoption of this crop up to India in the 3rd–2nd millennia BC. Investigations also revealed intriguing aspects in the way food was processed and consumed in the region. Recent excavations conducted at the site of Mahal Teglinos (K1) led to the discovery of a food preparation and perhaps consumption area
dating to the end of the 3rd millennium BC. These investigations also provided insights into the possible origins of the griddles used to cook sorghum and teff bread respectively in some regions of Sudan and on the Ethio-Eritrean highlands. Moreover, the evidence of the possible
consumption of delicatessen imported from Egypt during the First Intermediate Period–early Middle Kingdom was collected in the same assemblage, suggesting that the menu included both local and exotic foodstuff. Archaeological excavations showed that not only food preparation and consumption took place very intensively at Mahal Teglinos (K1), but also that true feasts may have taken place there. Finally, some remarks on the cultural context and the possible social meanings of all this are proposed.
Kerma art. Indeed, mythical animals like criosphinx, winged giraffe and hippo with anthropomorphic body and others were represented in the capital city of the kingdom of Kush in Kerma Classique times (ca. 1750-1550 BC). The features of these mythical animals will be described, and their occurrence will be outlined, with specific focus on the contexts where they were represented. Some hypotheses on their meaning and on their relevance in the Kerma ideology and religion will be proposed.