TheBayuda Desert, located at18°N33°E / 18°N 33°E /18; 33, is in the eastern region of theSahara Desert, spanning approximately 100,000 km2 of northeastSudan north ofOmdurman and south ofKorti, embraced by the great bend of theNile in the north, east, and south and limited by theWadi Muqaddam in the west. The north-to-south-alignedWadi Abu Dom divides the Bayuda Desert into the easternBayuda Volcanic Field and the westernochre-coloredsand-sheets scattered with rocky outcrop.[1]
Gold mining occurs today from October to March, as laborers workauriferousquartz found inwadis and shallow mines. These workings are usually in areas previously worked during theNew Kingdom of Egypt and the Early Arab Period.[2] In July 2020, it was found that gold hunters had used heavy machinery at the Jabal Maragha archaeological site, destroying it by digging a huge trench. The gold diggers were arrested and their equipment seized, but they were later released without charges.[3][4]
Throughout theMeroitic civilization, the Bayuda Desert became the lifeline connecting the northern and southern districts of theKingdom of Kush, withNapata andMeroe as the termini. The kingNastasen Stela provides testament of the existence and use of this route, describing his progress across the desert from Meroe to Napata for his coronation.[5]
The Bayuda Desert was crossed by the Desert Column of theGordon Relief Expedition in January 1885 in a failed attempt to relieve theSiege of Khartoum. The Desert Column was led mainly by Major General SirHerbert Stewart, but after he was mortally wounded, command passed to Brigadier GeneralCharles Wilson, the column's intelligence officer. The Expedition saw theBattle of Abu Klea and theBattle Abu Kru.
