Sudan possesses a profound civilizational heritage, extending from the Kingdom of Kerma and Kush to the civilization of Mero\u00eb and the Nubian kingdoms, which contributed to shaping the history of the region and its cultural and religious interactions. However, this history has remained constrained by political upheavals, wars, and competing historical narratives. Therefore, the recent archaeological discoveries at Old Dongola carry scientific significance, bringing Sudan back to the forefront of global awareness as a land that made history and contributed to shaping the human experience.<\/p>\n
The Sudanese-Polish archaeological mission, led by Professor Artur Ob\u0142uski, recently brought renewed attention to the Great Church of Jesus, whose structure was first discovered in 2021. Recent excavation work revealed additional architectural elements, including a massive staircase and supporting pillars, while reaching the level of the original floor. Initial estimates indicate that the building is approximately 47 metres wide, 57 metres long, and 21 metres high. These dimensions make it one of the largest known religious structures in medieval Nubia, and perhaps one of the most prominent examples of religious architecture in Africa during that period.<\/p>\n
The significance of this discovery lies in the questions it raises about the status of Old Dongola as the capital of the Kingdom of Makuria during that period, and the role of the church in religious life and the development of Nubian architecture. Moreover, the overlapping of its archaeological layers with structures from later periods demands scientific precision in excavation to preserve the remaining evidence without damaging it. Here, the value of the Sudanese-Polish partnership, which has extended since 1964, becomes evident through the expertise it has accumulated in uncovering and preserving this heritage.<\/p>\n
However, within the historical context of Sudanese civilization, Old Dongola should not be viewed in isolation. It is part of an extended civilizational record that begins with Kerma, which flourished approximately 4,500 years ago. It was the capital of the earliest Kingdom of Kush and an important urban and commercial centre in the Nile Valley, with connections to Egypt, Central Africa, and the Red Sea coasts.<\/p>\n
Then came Napata and Mero\u00eb to reaffirm that Sudan was never on the margins of ancient world history. The influence of the Kingdom of Kush extended into Egypt during the rule of the Twenty-Fifth Dynasty, while architecture, iron industries, water resource management, and trade flourished in Mero\u00eb, making it a centre of regional power with extensive connections to both the African and Mediterranean worlds.<\/p>\n
Nubia witnessed the emergence of the Christian kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria, and Alodia, with civilizational centres such as Faras, Old Dongola, and Soba flourishing within them. Yet the significance of this heritage lies in the fact that civilization did not stop at the boundaries of religious succession. Christianity and Islam coexisted and interacted culturally and socially, with gradual transformations taking place between them. Dongola embodies this continuity, as the royal throne hall was converted into a mosque in 1317 AD, in a scene that reveals how the place retained its memory while successive beliefs and their diverse influences intertwined in shaping the culture of its people.<\/p>\n
Then came the Funj Sultanate in Sennar, from the beginning of the sixteenth century, adding another layer to Sudan’s civilizational formation through the spread of Islam, the development of cities, markets, Quranic schools, and Sufi orders, as well as the expansion of commercial and cultural interaction among the country’s regions. Thus, from Kerma to Mero\u00eb, and from Dongola to Sennar, Sudan was not the homeland of a single civilization, but rather a rich historical landscape in which diverse experiences accumulated, all contributing to shaping its identity.<\/p>\n
This does not mean that our history was free of conflicts or religious and political competition, for history is more complex than idealized images suggest. However, this diversity provides us today with a foundation for reconsidering the meaning of tolerance and citizenship. Differences in beliefs did not prevent successive communities from emerging, nor did they prevent their historical remains from overlapping and interacting. This is a message worth reclaiming at a time when the enemy and its allies are attempting to tear apart what centuries of history have built.<\/p>\n
The significance of this discovery extends beyond national identity to global value. Mero\u00eb and Kerma are among Sudan’s heritage sites associated with UNESCO’s lists, while Old Dongola, with its diverse archaeological sites and monuments, possesses the potential for a greater presence on the map of human heritage. Therefore, we are now facing a remarkable opportunity for Sudan to present itself to the world through the history created by its people, rather than through a war that has exposed the disgrace of greed and betrayal.<\/p>\n
The real challenge facing the Sudanese state, from the perspective of #Face_of_Truth, is to move beyond celebrating the discovery towards incorporating it into a national project that protects collective memory and strengthens sovereignty. This requires protecting archaeological sites, developing museums and historical locations, expanding scientific research, integrating the roles of universities, development media, and society, and investing in cultural tourism as a driver of development. Sudan, whose land witnessed the rise of ancient kingdoms and civilizations, and whose people shaped a history of creativity, trade, and civilizational interaction, must own the narrative of its history rather than leave it to others to write on its behalf. For those who do not own the narrative of their past will find it difficult to own their decisions in the future.<\/p>\n
Wishing you continued health and well-being.<\/p>\n
Saturday, 14 November 2026<\/p>\n
Shglawi55@gmail.com<\/p>\n
#Great_Church_of_Jesus #Old_Dongola #Archaeological_Discoveries #Nubian_Architecture #History_of_Christianity_in_Sudan #Kingdom_of_Makuria #Nubian_Civilization #Sudanese_Heritage #Sudanese_Antiquities #World_Heritage #Ibrahim Shglawi<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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