Banganarti and Selib in the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons with Appendix 1: Pottery from Selib. Preliminary report (2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons), Appendix 2: Osteoarchaeological analyses of skeletal material from Selib 1 and Banganarti (2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons)

Abstract

The Polish archaeological project excavating at the Nubian sites of Banganarti and Selib concentrated on uncovering domestic architecture: the northeastern and southwestern districts at medieval Christian Banganarti and selected houses of Meroitic date at Selib 2. The conservation and restoration program put the finishing touches on the Raphaelion church in Banganarti and did substantial work on the remains of the earlier churches. The oldest church from Selib 1 was investigated and dated to the 6th–7th century based on a study of a well stratified ceramic assemblage. Pottery from the northern and southern refuse dumps ranged in date from the 9th to the 12th/13th century. A group of liturgical vessels, containing mostly small juglets and chalices, was distinguished in this assemblage. Exploration of the earlier Northern Building revealed potterycontemporaneous with the earliest phase of the church on site. Anthropological research was carried out on skeletal remains from the medieval cemeteries of Selib 1 and from individual graves at Banganarti. The results of ceramic studies and of the anthropological examination are reported in separate appendices to the main report.

Keywords

• Nubia
• Banganarti
• Selib
• Meroitic settlement
• church architecture
• St Menas