Near Eastern Institute

Kerma

Many eons ago, the town of Kerma stood basking in the sun. She was often referred to as ‘Doukki Gel’, which, when translated from the Nubian language, translates as ‘red mound’. Centuries ago,Kerma was proud to be called the Capital city of  the Kerma Kingdom, which was located in what is now modern Egypt and Sudan.The site where Kerma once stood harks back at least 4500 years and is a rich source of archeological importance and knowledge. Kerma as a city is thought to have become a full blown Nubian state sometime during the 3rd millennium BC. It stood 700 km from old Aswan.

The Early Years
From the earliest days, people started putting down roots in the Basin of Kerma. Archeological Research tells us that the first signs of human habitation date back to at least eight hundred thousand years. That is certainly a very long time in anyone’s language. At about 7500 BC the traces left behind by these many settlers become more sophisticated from an archeological point of view. For example,where these people at first left only simple tools, as time passed they leave evidence of spacious dwellings, as well as many interesting buildings and graves.Thus we know that the civilization began as a simple one, but grew more complex as new ideas were incorporated and new things were tried out.Just like any modern society.

Understanding the Neolithic phrase ,which falls between the late sixth to the fourth millennium BC, aids scholars in following the stages of ‘civilization’ growth.They are able to follow along with the ancient agricultural norms as they spread and change throughout a region. New ideas like cattle farming met with much success in ancient Kerma. Sometime during 3000BC, scholars know that a thriving town sprang up not far from where the original Neolithic hut like dwellings had stood. This shows us that the area was able to sustain the growing population to the extent that it became a permanent place of settlement.

The Town of  Kerma
Much excavation has taken place here during the last few decades by the archeologist Charles Bonnet. This examination has revealed that a capital city most certainly stood on the site during the third and second millennium BCE. There is a highly evolved residential area that makes precise dating very difficult. However, it has been possible to identify the existence of a strong social order in Kerma, with a hierarchical system in place.

Scholars speculate that from a general point of view, the ancient town probably had strictly enforced rules, and also a protected area that was in use only by the highest class of citizen.There is still the trace of long gone villages in Kerma that were situated with crop fields growing next to them. In the Capital itself, there are spacious mansion-type homes that were used by dignitaries and other important citizens of Kerma. These dignitaries kept a record of the trade in goods that arrived from far away cities.They also oversaw all the shipments that were sent in and played a vital administrative role in the community.

One of the most remarkable archeological finds in recent years occurred in 2003.On the site of Ancient Kerma, Charles Bonnet uncovered a ditch inside a temple in the long ago city of Pnoubs.This revealed seven monumental statues sculpted from black granite.These statues were excellently crafted and most perfectly preserved. 5 of them had been sculpted to represent important Pharaohs of the time, including Taharqa and Tantamani, who were indeed the last of the Nubian Dynasty.

During 2450-2050 BCE, Kerma was a busy settlement. Archeologist tell us that the ancient citizens built  places of worship, as well as rooms where offerings were prepared for their settlement.They made good use of acacia tree trunks in their building plans and often roofed the dwellings with palm fiber. They had a knack for creating something out of plant materials and then encasing it in very hard clay. The item, once surrounded by the clay, would be painted in bright colors. Many hut-like dwellings have been found that were built out of both wood and clay. This ancient method of constructing a hut was carried from generation to generation, and is in fact still being utilized in modern times.