2024

TOUMBOUS

Archaeological site
 
2024

THE DEFFUFAS AND THE MUSEUM

Archaeological site

Formerly located in the heart of the city, the western deffufa is nearly 20 m high and may suffer as much from the birds that nest in its walls as wind and sand. A staircase leads, in two stages, until its summit, passing the corridor that probably led to the burial chamber. The old location of the houses is symbolized in the surroundings by the bases by the way.

As its name indicates, eastern deffufa is located a few kilometres farther east. With smaller proportions, its remains can see that there are two inner halls, the entrance of which is still mentioned by remnants of columns. Fragments of cylindrical stone form a line on the ground through both pieces.

A museum opened in 2008 on the western deffufa site and is expected to expand to accommodate more visitors on the site. His interest is certain because he brings together very beautiful pieces which testify to the past richness of Kerma, including statues, pottery and objects of everyday life. The inhabitants of the Région region, which archaeologists gather under the impersonal label of "Group C", were farmers, fishermen and livestock breeders. Kerma had developed a refined art of pottery and worked a lot of metal. Traditional mud houses and land bricks protected heat. They are always built in the same way in 2010, even though the climate of the time was probably more lenient than these days.

Funeral practices are also mentioned. Inspired by their prehistoric ancestors of the group said "A", Nubian used to build circular graves and place their dead in foetal position, looking east and sunrise. Depending on the degree of tension with neighbours, particularly Egypt, there is the presence of weapons in funeral sites. More commonly, it is pottery, food or jewellery for women who accompany the deceased.

All ages from Neolithic to Islam are covered, with figurative reconstructions.

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