The Archaeology of Sudan and Nubia

Posted: 17 Nov 2007

See all articles by David N. Edwards

David N. Edwards

School of Archaeology and Ancient History

Abstract

This review explores recent research within the territory of the modern Sudan and Nubia. One special interest of this region's history and archaeology lies in its role as a zone of interaction between diverse cultural traditions linking sub-Saharan Africa, Egypt, the Mediterranean world, and beyond. The exceptionally early development of large-scale polities in the Middle Nile also offers remarkable opportunities for exploring the archaeology of the development of political power as well as for exploring research topics of a wide significance, both within and beyond African archaeology, such as the development of agriculture, urbanism, and metallurgy. The unique opportunities offered by the Nile corridor for trans-Saharan contacts have also ensured that the region's archaeology provides an extraordinary scope for exploring the interplay and interaction of indigenous and external cultural traditions, often very obviously manifested in the material worlds of the region: from their encounters with Pharaonic Egypt to the incorporation of Nubian kingdoms into medieval Christendom and the creation of new Arab and Muslim identities in the postmedieval world.

Keywords: regional interaction, Nubian, sub-Saharan Africa, Archaeology

Suggested Citation

Edwards, David N., The Archaeology of Sudan and Nubia. Annual Review of Anthropology, Vol. 36, October 2007, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1030655

David N. Edwards (Contact Author)

School of Archaeology and Ancient History ( email )

University Road
Leicester LE1 7RH
United Kingdom

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