Sudan

Gala Abu Ahmed

Fortress ruin in lower Wadi Howar

Location

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Historical Context

About

Gala Abu Ahmed is an archaeological site located in lower Wadi Howar, northern Sudan. This fortress ruin, measuring 120 by 180 meters, was discovered in 1984 by archaeologists from the University of Cologne. Radiocarbon dating indicates that the site was already in use by 1100 BCE, placing it in the Early Iron Age. It continued to be used during the Napatan phase of the Kingdom of Kush, between 750 and 350 BCE. Despite its substantial size and strategic location 110 kilometers west of the Nile, the precise function of the fortress remains unclear. The site exemplifies the defensive architecture typical of this period and region, offering insights into the socio-political landscape of ancient Sudan.

Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Classical Period
Post-Classical Period
Early Modern Period
Industrial Period
Contemporary Period
Temporal Epochs

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Fortress in use

1100 BCE

Napatan phase of Kingdom of Kush

750-350 BCE

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

category

Defensive Structures

Fortresses
Knowledge Base

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Reference

Details

Country

Sudan

Coordinates

17.46° N, 29.56° E