Abu Nafisa fort
Sudan

Abu Nafisa fort

Ruined fort near Nile with bastions.

Location

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Historical Context

About

The Abu Nafisa Fort, located in Khartoum Province, Sudan, is a significant archaeological site built by the rulers of Alwa in the 6th century CE. This quadrilateral fort, measuring 83x78 meters, is situated on the left bank of the Nile. Notable for its bastions, the fort's strategic placement near the river has led to periodic flooding and damage. In the southeastern corner of the fort lies the tomb of Sheikh Abu Nafisa, dating back to the Funj Sultanate period in the 18th-19th centuries CE. The site's historical significance is underscored by its construction during a time when similar forts, such as Hosh el-Kab, were also being built. Today, the fort is surrounded by cultivated land, and its periodic submersion is captured in satellite imagery.

Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Classical Period
Post-Classical Period
Early Modern Period
Industrial Period
Contemporary Period
Visual Archive

Gallery

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FileRemains_of_Abu_Nafisa_fort_in_2018.jpg
Temporal Epochs

Historical Timeline

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Construction of Abu Nafisa Fort

550 CE

Use of Sheikh Abu Nafisa Tomb

1700 CE

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

category

Defensive Structures

FortressesBastions
category

Burial and Funerary Structures

Tombs
Reference

Details

Country

Sudan

Coordinates

16.01° N, 32.55° E