Dig Into History

28

Christianity in the sixth century C.E. As the

Makurians expanded north, they came into

direct contact with Byzantine Egypt. Exchanges

of goods between the two countries is evident in

the regional pottery types found in the

archaeological record. Contacts with church

officials in Alexandria, Egypt, led to the

establishment of dioceses in Makuria.

In the mid-seventh century, a Muslim army

attacked Makuria, but the Nubians held them

back. After a prolonged siege of Dongola, the

Islamic forces retreated. The two sides signed a

peace treaty known as the baqt — a treaty that

prevented war for 520 years.

Finds tell a Story

The reason we know of the Byzantine Empire’s

spread to Dongola is from the work of Polish

archaeological teams excavating in the area

since 1964. Their work sheds light onto what life

was like at the far reaches of the Byzantine

Empire.

Currently known as “Old Dongola,” to

distinguish the ancient site from a modern town

with the same name, this area in the eastern

Sahara Desert seems an unlikely location for a

settlement. However, as any visitor will attest,

the proximity of the Nile River and the green

crops growing on an island in the river make

Dongola appear a paradise when compared to

ts desolate surroundings.

The most prominent building on site is Throne

Hall. This tower juts approximately 40 feet into

the air. A number of other buildings have been

excavated between Throne Hall and the

riverbank, including palaces and churches. The

archaeologists have also identified certain

buildings as workshops for making pottery and

smelting iron.

A diocese is an area that is controlled by a bishop, a senior member of the clergy of the Christian Church.

S s t c D i H t e r a b s

Here, Jesus is shown

healing a blind man.

Can you see the Archangel Gabriel

here? How about his flaming sword?