Unknown hafir at Jebel Shaqadud: new evidence on water management in central Sudan

0518427 - ARÚ 2020 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Varadzin, Ladislav - Varadzinová, L. - Fuller, D. Q. - Hamdeen, H. M.
Unknown hafir at Jebel Shaqadud: new evidence on water management in central Sudan.
Der Antike Sudan. Roč. 30, č. 2019 (2019), s. 111-116. ISSN 0945-9502
Grant - others:GA ČR(CZ) GA17-03207S
Institutional support: RVO:67985912
Keywords : water management * Sudan * Meroitic period
OECD category: Archaeology
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://www.sag-online.de/mittsag-30-2019-inhalt-contents-list/

In this paper we report on the remains of a hafir (artificial water reservoir) found in the western part of the Butana Desert near the ancient site of Naqa that can be dated before or to the early Post-Meroitic period at the latest (ca. AD 200–550). Although its constructional elements make it similar to the well-known gigantic hafirs at the central Meroitic sites, its small dimensions and absence of any indicators of central function allow envisaging its construction by local agro-pastoralists beyond direct control of the Meroitic central power. This new find necessitates in-depth research into origin and dispersion of this ancient form of water management still in use in today’s Sudan.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0304764