Unparalleled discovery: an ancient tomb may reveal 4,000-year-old African rituals

A recently uncovered ancient tomb deep in the Sudanese desert may shed light on secrets thousands of years old, with no known parallel in African history, according to archaeologists. The seemingly ordinary burial site concealed a peculiar vessel whose contents have excited researchers.

The remains of an isolated ancient grave in the Bayuda Desert of Sudan may reveal a highly unusual and previously unknown funerary ritual. According to researchers, the 4,000-year-old burial points to a custom that is entirely unique in archaeology, reports Live Science.

The tomb was discovered in 2018 and, based on the artefacts, dates to between 2050 and 1750 BCE, meaning the deceased may have been a resident of the Kingdom of Kerma, an early Nubian civilisation that flourished alongside ancient Egypt.

An ordinary-looking grave with extraordinary contents

There was nothing unusual about the outward appearance of the ancient grave: it was covered by an oval mound of earth, and inside lay the skeleton of a middle-aged man. Two ceramic vessels had been placed behind his head, and around his neck were 82 blue glazed disc beads – all common finds from this period.

The most important discovery, however, was hidden within one of the vessels: a special mixture consisting of charred plants, wood, insect remains, animal bones, and fossilised dung.

Most of the wood came from acacia trees, while the plant remains consisted mainly of legumes – likely lentils and beans – as well as cereals. Researchers also identified remains of weevil insects, which probably entered the vessel along with the grain.

According to the researchers, all of this may have been the remnants of a funerary feast. The bones suggest that the food had been consumed, after which part of the leftovers was thrown into a fire; the resulting material was later placed into the vessel. Interestingly, the pot shows no signs of burning, so its contents were likely not burned inside it – the charred materials were simply deposited into it afterwards.

The other vessel was placed upside down beside the deceased, but it was completely empty.

The ancient tomb also reveals clues about climate change

The plant remains also demonstrate that the region was once wetter and more savanna-like – in stark contrast to today’s desert landscape. According to the researchers, even a site like this can provide important information for understanding modern climatic and environmental changes.

• Researchers may have found the tomb of Jesus – a 2,000-year-old garden reveals its exact location

A unique burial from the Kingdom of Kerma

This is the first Kerma-period ancient tomb in which fire-treated remains pointing to a funerary ritual have been found. The exact purpose of this custom is not yet known, but the missing pieces may suggest that the region had a far more complex cultural and social system than previously assumed, of which we currently know only fragments.

Researchers believe that further excavations may lead to key information that could help us better understand ancient Africa’s funerary traditions, and perhaps even its trade and cultural networks.