New findings on the significance of Jebel Moya in the eastern Sahel

Abstract

This paper presents new excavation data and new radiometric dates for Jebel Moya, south-central Sudan. These data suggest revisions to previous chronological understandings of the site. New excavations, initiated in 2017, show a longer, more continuous occupation of the site than has been previously recognised. Archaeozoological and archaeobotanical analyses provide evidence for domesticated taxa. Archaeobotanical evidence is dominated by domesticated sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), radiocarbon dated to c. 2550-2210 BC. Faunal remains include cattle and goat/sheep. A late third-millennium BC date on the human skeleton excavated in the 2017 season also shows that mortuary activity began early in the site's history, contemporary with domesticated faunal and botanical remains. These initial results indicate the long-term association of the site with pastoralism and agriculture and with environmental change. Jebel Moya's continued potential to serve as a chronological and cultural reference point for future studies in south-central Sudan and the eastern Sahel is reinforced.

The second season of excavations at Jebel Moya (south-central Sudan)

“…Initially, OSL dates were obtained from pottery curated at the British Museum (Brass 2016). Subsequently, a new soil sample from the 2017 field season permitted a recalibration of these dates (Brass et al 2019, Table 2). Taken together, Stratum D is bracketed to the late sixth millennium BC (Caneva 1991; Brass et al 2018b), Stratum C from the early to late third millennium BC, and strata A and B to the first millennium BC, maybe into the first century AD (Brass et al 2019, Tables 2 and 3).…”

“…The first field season revealed an extensive occupation dating back to at least the late sixth millennium BC. Furthermore, it yielded AMS dates on three domesticated Sorghum bicolour husks, bracketing them in the mid-third millennium BC (Brass et al 2019, Table 4). Further dates were obtained on animal remains and a Ziziphus endocarp from trenches 2 and 4, spanning strata B and C. Finally, there is a developing pottery sequence of three assemblages which has a broad correlation with the geological strata: Assemblage 1 with Stratum D, Assemblage 2 with Stratum C, and Assemblage 3 with strata A and B.…”

“…Trench 2 was the richest area from the previous field season, penetrating down into viable, stratigraphically coherent Neolithic layers. These yielded abundant pottery stretching from 2,000 years ago (contemporary with the northerly Meroitic state) down to the mid-third millennium BC, animal remains which offer valuable environmental data, and the second oldest domesticated sorghum yet found in the world (2575–2350 BC) (Brass et al 2019). As the neighbouring gully shows a sequence down to and including Late Mesolithic pottery sherds at the base of the gully floor, the decision was made to resume excavating Trench 2 in an effort to reach bedrock and thereby have the first complete occupational sequence in the central and southern Gezira plain.…”

Ordering the land beyond the Sixth Cataract: Imperial policy, archaeology and the role of Henry Wellcome

“…Uribe's prediction that Jebel Moya would be abandoned and ‘populated by dreadful ghosts and afrits ’ held true until the twenty-first century 31 . The data available in the UK was re-examined by Michael Brass and excavations were re-opened in 2017 (Brass et al 2019). The current project is very different in scope.…”

“…The next publication, based on an extensive re-examination of records and pottery assemblages curated in the United Kingdom was by Michael Brass (2016). Excavations resumed in 2017 and its findings are revising our understanding of both the archaeology of the Gezira Plain as well as the chronology of sorghum domestication in the eastern Sahel (Brass et al 2019). Outside of African archaeology, Henry Wellcome remains predominantly known as a pharmaceutical pioneer, philanthropist and collector.…”