Disclosing the provenance and production technology of Meroitic ceramics from Sedeinga (Northern Sudan)

The provenance and production technology of ceramics is crucial to understanding more about the use of ceramics and the society they were produced by. Ceramics in Sudan and in the Meroitic industry have been analysed for many years, however Sedeinga has never had its ceramics scientifically analysed. Sedeinga is an important site as it is located near the Nubian limit and has a lot of potential in a greater ceramic knowledge in this area. Northern Sudan has been an important area of study for years because of its interaction with the Egyptians and due to the fact that many of the sites have been abandoned since ancient times. The constant research within Nubia gives a huge insight to the Meroitic communities and influence over Sudan. Sedeinga has only more recently been given a lot of attention and this analysis hopes to give more knowledge about the society living here during the Meroitic period. This study will be using past research from other sites throughout Nubia such as Musawwarat es-Sufra and Meroe, to compare the data and see if there is any correlation or interactions like trade with other societies. Sedeinga is studied in the context of an important Meroitic necropolis and specifically excavating the tombs and pyramidal superstructures. For this research scientific methods will be used to analyse the ceramics, such as XFR, XRD, and petrography.