 Uronarti. | |
  Shown within Sudan | |
| Location | Northern, Sudan |
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| Region | Middle Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 21°31′33″N30°59′25″E / 21.52583°N 30.99028°E /21.52583; 30.99028 |
| Type | Fortress |
Uronarti is an island and archaeological site in theNile just south of theSecond Cataract in the north ofSudan. The site features a massive ancient fortress that still stands on its northern end. This fortress is one of many constructed along the Nile in Lower Nubia during theMiddle Kingdom, beginning under the reign ofSenusret I.
This site was thought to be submerged underLake Nasser, however parts remain above water and recently seen the establishment of new archaeological projects.[1] The discoveries of the project include an extramural settlement contemporary with the fortress, called Site FC, and further details on the settlement itself.[1]
Uronarti has been researched for over 100 years.[2] Uronarti was first excavated by British archaeologist Noel F. Wheeler under the nominal supervision ofGeorge Andrew Reisner in 1924.[3] The results of these excavations were published byDows Dunham.[3]
After theAswan High Dam was built, it believed that this site was submerged underLake Nasser. Recently, the fortress was recently rediscovered by Derek Welsby.[2] In 2012, the Uronarti Regional Archaeology Project (URAP) was formed by Dr Laurel Bestock and Dr Christian Knoblauch to investigate Uronarti.[1] The project, which is ongoing, focuses on colonial relations and the lived experience of ancient people on Uronarti and in the surrounding region.[4]
The triangular shaped fortress of Uronarti is situated high on a rocky island, where it took advantage of the narrow passage of the Nile River in an area with the modern nameBatn-El-Hajar - the Belly of Rocks.[5] Conforming closely to the topography, the fort is an example of theTerrain type of Middle Kingdom forts. It was largely constructed of sun-dried mud brick.[6]
The initial mapping of Uronarti was completed by Dows Dunham.[3] The interior of the fortress has streets paved with stone.[3] Sections of the fort include large granaries, buildings thought to be an administrative center, a governor's house, and barracks.[7][3] The barracks are similar in plan to small houses known at other Middle Kingdom settlements that were planned by the state[6] Many of the buildings inside the fortress saw substantial modifications over time, indicating shifts in both social life and administration.[4] The ceramics from dumps at Uronarti suggest an occupation history into the very late Middle Kingdom or very early Second Intermediate Period, but not beyond.[6]
Aside from the architecture itself, the overwhelming majority of archaeological finds from Uronarti fortress are ceramics.[8]
Some other items found at Uronarti include seal impressions, mud stamps, pottery, papyrus fragments, and stelae.[8] Most papyrus fragments include only a few characters, and while they are thus largely illegible, they attest to the high level of documentation of the administrative activities of the fortress (see theSemna Despatches for better preserved records of this type of activity). The large number of sealings reflects administrative activities, and can track changes in leadership through the fort's use.[8]
Site FC is an site some 250m south of the walls of the fortress.[9] Discovered in 2012 and partly excavated in 2013 and 2015, it is significantly different from the fort although it appears to be contemporary with it.[9] Occupying two low hills near the current east shore of the island, the site consists of the remains of at least 25 dry-stone huts constructed of local stone.[10] Some huts were single rooms, some more elaborate groupings of rooms.[9]
One excavated hut had a hearth and a windbreak protecting large storage vessels.[11] This site was most likely contemporary with the early phase of the occupation of the fortress.[11]
In addition to the fortress, Uronarti had some other mud brick constructions, the largest of which was a rectangular building that is discussed in scholarly literature as the "Campaign Palace".[3] Before the construction of Lake Nasser, this rectangular building was interpreted as a palace that the king could have stayed at while on campaign.[3] However, there is little evidence to support this analysis. We can see this is a larger building than others, and that could have indicated status.[12] Unfortunately, this area is annually flooded, so studying it can be difficult. The URAP conducted studies at low water to see how much of the "palace" remained, but results were inconclusive.[12]
A massive boundary wall runs the length of the exterior, and extends several hundred meters to the south toward the Semna fortress.[3]
A near-duplicate of the text of the Semna stela of Senusret III was found at Uronarti byGeorg Steindorf,Ludwig Borchardt and H. Schäfer.[13] The inscription states that Senusret III was victorious over a Nubian army, however it is not clear what in this record is militaristic propaganda, and what is recounting of historical events. A discussion, transcription, and translation were published by J. Janssen.[13] The stela is currently housed in theNational Museum of Sudan.[13]
Many similar fortresses, such asBuhen,Mirgissa,Shalfak,Askut,Dabenarti,Semna, andKumma, were established within signaling distance of each other.[14] Most of the fortresses are now beneath Lake Nasser, however areal surveillance has provided recent views of these sites.[2]
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