Explo a ion o he la e p ehis o ic occupa ion
in he wes e n pa o Jebel Sabaloka in cen al Sudan:
indings o he 2022 ield campaign
Lenka Va adzino á– Ladisla Va adzin– Isabelle C e ecoeu –
Nicolas Ma in– Saddam Hassan
ABSTRACT
In he au umn o 2022, ield esea ch was esumed in he wes e n pa o Jebel Sabaloka in cen al Sudan.
A en ion was paid o wo si es: Ga n el -Tamada (SBK.W-67) in es iga ed o he i s ime only in he epo ed
ield campaign, and Fox Hill (SBK.W-20) whose a chaeological po en ial had been explo ed in de ail al eady
in p e ious yea s. In his epo we p esen he main indings and obse a ions made du ing h ee weeks in
he ield and highligh hei ele ance o ex ending he unde s anding o la e p ehis o y o cen al Sudan
as ega ds bo h he di e si y o hun e -ga he e way o li e as well as he complexi y o he Mesoli hic-
-Neoli hic ansi ion.
KEYWORDS
Six h Nile Ca a ac – Mesoli hic– Neoli hic– se lemen landscape– human bu ials– bed ock g ound s one
ea u es
:نادوسلا طسوب اكولبس لبج نم ىبرغلا ءزجلا ىف رخأتملا خيراتلا لبق ام رصع نم ناطوتسا فاشكتسا
2022 ماع مسوم جئاتن
نسح مادص – نترام سلاوكين – روكيفيرك ليبازيإ – نيزداراف فلاسيدلا – افونيزداراف اكنيل
صخلملا
ىلع مامتهلاا زيكرت مت .نادوسلا طسو ىف اكولبس لبج نم ىبرغلا ءزجلا ىف ىناديملا ثحبلا فنؤُتسا ،2022 ماع فيرخ يف
لبج عقومو ،مسوملا اذه للاخ ةرم لولأ بيقنتلا لامعأ هيف ترج عقوم وهو ، (SBK.W-67) ةدامتلا نرق :نييسيئر نيعقوم
ضرعن ،ريرقتلا اذه ىف .ةقباسلا تاونسلا ىف رئافحلا مساوم للاخ ليصفتلاب هنع فشكلا قبس ىذلا (SBK.W-20) بلعتلا
نيعقوملا ةيمهأ ىلع ءوضلا طلسن امك ،عيباسأ ةثلاثل دتما ىذلا مسوملا للاخ اهيلإ لصوتلا مت ىتلا ةيسيئرلا تاظحلاملاو جئاتنلا
ىعماجو نيدايصلا ةايح بيلاسأ عونتب قلعتي اميف كلذو ،نادوسلا طسو ةقطنم ىف رخأتملا خيراتلا لبق ام ةرتفل انمهف عيسوت ىف
.ثيدحلا ىرجحلا رصعلا ىلإ طيسولا ىرجحلا رصعلا نم لاقتنلاا ةيلاكشإ ىلإ ةفاضلإاب ،رامثلا
ةيحاتفملا تاملكلا
نفادملا تامس – ةيرشبلا نفادملا – تانطوتسملا – ثيدحلا ىرجحلا رصعلا – طيسولا ىرجحلا رصعلا – سداسلا لينلا للاش
ةيرخصلا
PRAGUE EGYPTOLOGICAL STUDIES XXXIII/2024, 28–53
29L. VARADZINOVÁ– L. VARADZIN– I. CREVECOEUR– N. MARTIN– S. HASSAN
Jebel Sabaloka a he Six h Nile Ca a ac in cen al Sudan cons i u es ageog aphically
dis inc i e landscape whe e he wa e s and esou ces o he Nile, he weal h o aw ma e-
ials in he olcanic moun ain, and he plan s and animals in he as sa annas ex ending
u he inland mus ha e once cons i u ed mos a ou able condi ions o human se lemen .
The a ac ion o he egion o se lemen in di e en pe iods has been con i med du ing
a chaeological econnaissance o he egion in he au umn o 2009 and sp ing o 2011 ha
b ough o ligh abundan emains o occupa ion da ed om he Ea ly S one Age o mode n
e a (Suko áe al. 2010; Suko á– Cílek 2012). While dis inc a chaeological po en ial was e -
iden on bo h banks o he i e , de ailed a chaeological esea ch has been pe o med since
he au umn o 2011 due o adminis a i e limi a ions only on he wes bank o he Nile. The
main a en ion has been paid o he emains o occupa ion by hun e -ga he e s o he Kha -
oum Mesoli hic, da ed in Jebel Sabaloka based on ala ge se ies o adioca bon da es o ca.
8750–4750 BC (Va adzino áe al. 2023a), and by ea ly ood p oduce s o he Ea ly Neoli hic,
da ed b oadly in cen al Sudan o ca. 5000–3800 BC (Ga cea 2020), wi h emains om bo h
ea lie and la e pe iods documen ed o a u u e dedica ed esea ch (Suko á– Cílek 2012).
A e he ini ial econnaissance, explo a ion o mos si es wi h iden i ied la e p ehis o ic
(Kha oum Mesoli hic and/o Ea ly Neoli hic) emains has in ol ed since he au umn o 2011
ade ailed sys ema ic (analy ical) su ace su ey combined wi h exca a ion o es enches
aimed a asce aining he s a e o p ese a ion o a chaeological deposi s a he su eyed si es
and he po en ial o he loca ions o la ge -scale exca a ions (in 2011, 2012, 2019) (Suko á–
Va adzin 2012; Va adzino á 2021). The la e ha e been conduc ed so a on wo majo loca ions,
Sphinx and Fox Hill, whe e well -p ese ed deposi s and ab oad spec um o inds– a e ac s,
eco ac s, and human bu ials– ha e allowed o es ablishing he ch onology o local se lemen ,
subsis ence, and ma e ial cul u e and o ex ending he unde s anding o he social li e o
he la e p ehis o ic communi ies in cen al Sudan (in 2011–2012, 2014–2015, 2017–2018) (Suk-
o á– Va adzin 2012; Va adzino á– Va adzin 2017; Va adzino áe al. 2022a; Va adzino áe al.
2022b; Va adzino áe al. 2023b).
The ield esea ch esumed in he wes e n pa o Jebel Sabaloka in he au umn o
2022 also ollowed hese wo lines o in es iga ion, ocusing on wo si es: Ga n el -Tamada
(SBK.W-67), explo ed o he i s ime in some de ail only du ing his ield campaign, and
Fox Hill (SBK.W-20), whose a chaeological po en ial has been in es iga ed h ough de ailed
su ace esea ch and la ge -scale exca a ions since he au umn o 2011 ( ig. 1).1 The aim o his
pape is o p o ide he i s epo on he main indings a bo h si es.
GARN EL ‑TAMADA (SBK.W‑67)
Ga n el -Tamada is adesigna ion used by he local inhabi an s o he a ea o ag ani e ou c op
ca. 3.5 km o he no h o he Nile and 1.3 km o he wes o he Sabaloka massi loca ed be-
ween wo majo wadis ha d ain he a ea o he wes e n pe iphe y o he moun ain ( ig.1).
1 The ieldwo k ook place be ween 8–30 No embe 2022, wi h pa icipa ion o wo a chaeologis s
(Ladisla Va adzin and Lenka Va adzino á), wo biological an h opologis s (Isabelle C e ecoeu and
Nicolas Ma in), he ep esen a i e o he Na ional Co po a ion o An iqui ies and Museums o
he Sudan (Saddam Hassan), and h ee s uden s - ainees om he Uni e si y o Kha oum (Haji
Fadlallah Ma houm, Tasneem Abdu ahman Mahjoub Elhaj and Nahid Adam Hdob Suliman).
30 PRAGUE EGYPTOLOGICAL STUDIES XXXIII/2024
The name means he “Ho n o awa e basin” and may de i e om he ac ha his place e-
ains wa e o an ex ended pe iod a e annual ains. The ou c op is o ed mica g ani e and
is b oken by mu al join ing in o se e al sec o s (Almond– Ahmed 1993) ha a e adjoined by
low -lying a eas o ming mo e -o -less le elled pla o ms. Small eins o qua z, one o he aw
ma e ials exploi ed in he Holocene p ehis o y o li hic p oduc ion (Kapus ka 2017), occu
spa ingly wi hin he g ani e.
Ga n el -Tamada was egis e ed as o possible in e es o p ehis o ic esea ch du ing e-
connaissance o he esea ch a ea in he au umn o 2011, wi h h ee a eas epo ed o con ain
li hics and/o p ehis o ic po e y (loca ions 131, 132, and 134) and one o hos ase ies o o al ba-
sin hollows on he su aces o he exposed bed ock (loca ion 133). The a chaeological po en ial
o he ou c op was con i med in he sp ing o 2019 when h ee o he loca ions we e e isi ed
and he whole ou c op was pinpoin ed o de ailed in es iga ion (see Va adzino áe al. 2021).
METHODS
De ailed in es iga ion wi hin and a ound he g ani e ou c op was pe o med by h ee pe sons
o e ou days in he au umn o 2022. The a ea was i s desc ibed om he poin o iew o
geomo phology and opog aphy and was su eyed o emains o o me human occupa-
ion in he o m o su ace inds and ea u es. Wi h he o me , hei gene al dis ibu ions
(including densi ies o li hics) we e no ed and he sec o s wi h p ehis o ic e idence (li hics,
Fig. 1 Resea ch a ea o he Cha les Uni e si y Sabaloka Expedi ion in he wes e n pa o Jebel Sabaloka.
A – Map wi h loca ions o he la e p ehis o ic (Kha oum Mesoli hic and Ea ly Neoli hic) si es s udied
since 2011; B – De ail iew o he geog aphically dis inc i e se lemen landscape along he wes e n and
sou h-wes e n pe iphe y o he moun ain, wi h la ge squa es indica ing he wo si es in es iga ed in
2022. Si e names a e gi en wi h he loca ions e e ed o in he ex (backg ound: ESRI Base Map – Wo ld
Image y Sou ce, Digi al Globe, upda ed by L. Va adzino á)
31L. VARADZINOVÁ– L. VARADZIN– I. CREVECOEUR– N. MARTIN– S. HASSAN
po e y, g ound s one a e ac s) we e subsequen ly delimi ed as dis inc uni s o u he su -
ace su ey. S one s uc u es we e localised by aGPS placed on he g ound su ace and we e
documen ed by e bal desc ip ion (ca ego y, ype) and pho og aphy. Wi h a i icial bed ock
ea u es (sensu Rosenbe g– Nadel 2017: 1), mo e de ailed documen a ion was pe o med, wi h
each o hem measu ed (leng h, wid h, dep h), desc ibed as o ype (e.g. basins, la g inding
su aces, cup -ma ks, cupules, smoo hed a eas), and pho og aphed. Sys ema ic analy ical
su ace su ey using s anda dized su ey o ms and p ocedu e (see Va adzino áe al. 2021)
was subsequen ly pe o med in selec ed a eas. Basic quan i a i e and quali a i e da a we e
collec ed o po e y (densi y, agmen a ion, s a e o p ese a ion, ep esen ed ypes), li hics
(quan i y/densi y, aw ma e ial spec um, p esence o diagnos ic/peculia pieces), and g ound
s one a e ac s ( ep esen ed ca ego ies and hei quan i ies). Wi h o he ypes o inds, only
hei ca ego ies and quan i ies we e no ed.
In selec ed a eas, small -scale exca a ion was pe o med o asce ain he p esence o
a chaeological deposi s and o assess he po en ial o he a eas o mo e in -dep h esea ch.
T enches measu ing 1 m2 o 0.5 m2 o smalle exca a ion uni s we e explo ed. Wi h he o me ,
a e emo al o he su ace laye (s a ig aphic uni 1, SU1), he exca a ion p og essed in spi s
(mechanical uni s, MU) ca. 50 mm in hickness ha espec ed he in e aces be ween s a i-
g aphic uni s whe e asce ained. All le els we e documen ed by means o e bal desc ip ion,
pho og aphy, and d awings, wi h he exca a ed sedimen d y -sie ed using a4-mm mesh and
he coa se ac ion so ed o a e ac s and eco ac s. The smalle exca a ion uni s measu ed no
mo e han ca. 0.16 m
2
and we e explo ed by means o aone -hand hoe as “mic o -soundings” in o
he subsu ace deposi s, wi h desc ip ion o he asce ained sedimen s, dep hs, and a chae-
ological inds. A e exca a ion and documen a ion, bo h es enches and mic o -soundings
we e back illed using he exca a ed sedimen .
MAIN FINDINGS
Based on he su ey o he ou c op and i s icini y, 16 a eas wi h emains o la e p ehis o ic
occupa ion we e delimi ed as dis inc esea ch uni s o u he in es iga ion (A eas A–P; ig.2).
All a e con ined o he sou he n pa o he ou c op and i s icini y bu di e in size and se ing.
Table 1 p o ides an o e iew o some o he quan i a i e and quali a i e da a collec ed h ough
bo h basic and sys ema ic (A eas A–H, O) and only basic (A eas I–N, P) su ey o he esea ch
uni s. The e a e clea di e ences in he quan i y and cha ac e o he iden i ied emains, which
sugges s a a ied in ensi y and cha ac e o use o he indi idual a eas in he pas .
Medium o high abundances o p ehis o ic po e y, medium o high densi ies o li hics,
and abundan inds o g ound s one a e ac s, in pa icula g inding -milling ools, indica e
mo e signi ican la e p ehis o ic occupa ion in h ee a eas in es iga ed in de ail: A ea A, an
enclosed pla o m in he sou he n pa o he ou c op delimi ed on all sides by g ani e bed-
ock (2,308 m2), A eas E–H, si ua ed on he op o alow g ani e hill a he wes e n pe ime e
o he ou c op (102 m2 in o al), and A ea Oon he low-lying plain be ween he sou h -eas e n
pe ime e o he ou c op and he eas e ly o he wo wadis (21,023 m2) ( able 1; ig. 2). Mes-
oli hic po e y clea ly p edomina es ( ig. 3), bu occasional inds o bu nished po e y and
mac oli hic indus y (incl. one gouge on ed hyoli e in A ea A) poin o some occupa ion also
du ing he Neoli hic. In addi ion, singula inds o po e y wi h o ganic empe (A eas F and
32 PRAGUE EGYPTOLOGICAL STUDIES XXXIII/2024
H) and one she d o awheel -made essel (A ea G, ig. 3: A) hin a occupa ion o hese spaces
also du ing la e pe iods. Occasional inds o eolized li hics on ed hyoli e in A ea Opoin o
apossible human p esence in he a ea also du ing he Pleis ocene.
In he emaining h ee a eas su eyed in de ail (A eas B–D), only e y low densi ies o
li hics we e eco ded. In A ea C– ana ow, elonga ed s ip o he wes o A ea A(538 m2) –,
po e y was nea ly absen and g ound s one a e ac s p esen only in a ew agmen s ( able
1). The sligh ly highe p esence o po e y and g inding -milling ools in A eas B (141 m2) and D
(2,034 m2), on he o he hand, may be connec ed wi h he spa ial p oximi y o A ea B o A ea
Aand he g ani e su aces wi h bed ock g ound s one ea u es and o he wes e n pa o
A ea D, whe e mos o he su ace inds concen a ed wi hin his a ea, o he g ani e hill ha
hos s A eas E–H and ano he concen a ion o bed ock g ound s one ea u es ( able 1; ig. 2). In
bo h A eas B and D, Mesoli hic emains clea ly p e ailed, wi h Neoli hic po e y also p esen ,
bu a e. Use o he h ee a eas in pos -Neoli hic imes is indica ed by singula su ace inds
o po e y wi h o ganic empe o dis inc deco a i e pa e ns and, in A eas C and D, also by
p esence o une a y (A ea D) and non - une a y (A ea C) s one s uc u es.
One es ench and ou mic o -soundings we e exca a ed in A eas A, B and H ( ig. 2). In
T ench 1 (1 × 1 m, max. dep h 57 cm) delimi ed a he sou he n edge o A ea A, ab own, sil y
indu a ed laye , con aining medium -sized pieces o g ani e g us, only aminimum quan i y
Fig. 2 Ga n el-Tamada (SBK.W-67). A – View o he en i e g ani e ou c op be ween wo wadis; B – De ail
iew o he sou he n pa o he g ani e ou c op wi h iden i ied esea ch uni s (A eas A–P) wi h emains
o la e p ehis o ic occupa ion; bold ype = ca ego y A loca ions, egula ype = ca ego y B loca ions;
ligh -colou ed (yellow) do s = inds o bed ock g ound s one ea u es (o al basin hollows), emp y squa es
= loca ions o exca a ed enches (T), ull squa es = loca ions o mic o-soundings (MS) (backg ound: Goo-
gle Ea h 2023, upda ed by L. Va adzin and L. Va adzino á)

33L. VARADZINOVÁ– L. VARADZIN– I. CREVECOEUR– N. MARTIN– S. HASSAN
o sand, and compa a i ely nume ous agmen s o po e y (Mesoli hic, bu possibly also
Neoli hic) wi h sha p ac u es, li hics, agmen s o animal bones, incl. bu n ones, and
molluscs, was unco e ed a adep h o 2–20 cm below he g ound su ace ( ig. 4: A). This
laye , designa ed SU2, was loca ed mos ly in he sou h -wes e n co ne and along he eas e n
pe ime e o he ench. I was o e laid by a hin su ace laye o d i ed sand wi h nume ous
pebbles and occasional inds o li hics and po e y (SU1, dep h 0–2 cm) and was es ing on
as e ile, massi e laye o pebbles (90%) (SU3, dep h 20–57 cm) ( ig. 4: B). This SU2 possibly
ep esen s meag e emains o acul u al deposi illing in na u al dep essions in wadi g a els.
As a ig aphic sequence simila o ha in T ench 1 was also unco e ed in mic o -sounding
(MS) 2 a he no he n edge o A ea A. In he emaining h ee mic o -soundings explo ed in
A eas A, B and H, no emains o cul u al deposi s we e de ec ed. This poin s o only alimi -
ed po en ial o he es ed a eas o u u e exca a ion. In A ea H, which ea u ed dense and
abundan su ace inds, he absence o cul u al deposi s is e iden ly he esul o ad anced
de la ion o he o iginal a chaeological e ain.
Fig. 3 Ga n el-Tamada, selec ion o classi iable she ds o po e y. A – A ea G, wi h a wheel-made she d
a he bo om igh among agmen s wi h mine al empe and deco a ed wi h Rocke S amp o Simple
Imp ession; B – A ea O, wes e n pa , wi h one g oup o he la ge quan i ies o agmen s wi h mine al
empe and deco a ed mos ly wi h Rocke S amp (pho o by L. Va adzin)
Fig. 4 Ga n el-Tamada, A ea A, T ench 1. A – S a ig aphic uni s a e emo al o MU2; B – Eas e n sec ion
o he ench a e exca a ion. See ex o mo e in o ma ion (pho o by L. Va adzin)
34 PRAGUE EGYPTOLOGICAL STUDIES XXXIII/2024
A ea Size (m2)Su ey Mo able inds Mo able inds S one
s uc u es
Bed ock
ea u es
Exca a ion Ca ego y
Po e y Li hics G ound s ones O he TT M-S
A 2,308 basic
sys ema ic
ela i ely high abundance, bu wea he ed
and agmen ed, mos ly unclassi iable
n=70, mos ly MES (Rocke S amp, incl. DWL), 1 NEOL
densi y 2–5
1 gouge on ed hy-
oli e
bo h lowe and uppe g inde s in high
ens o low hund eds; 1 comple e
s one ing and se e al pieces ewo ked
om uppe g inde s
3 ( ype I) 1 m22 A
B 141 basic
sys ema ic
medium o low abundance, e y agmen ed
and wea he ed
n=6, mos ly MES (Rocke S amp, incl. DWL), also la e
(o ganic empe , NEOL, pos -NEOL?)
densi y 4–5 bo h lowe and uppe g inde s in low
ens 18 ( ype I) 1 B
C 538 basic
sys ema ic
sca ce o absen
n=1 ( o al sample), pos -NEOL densi y 4–5 less han 10 inds o bo h lowe and
uppe g inde s, all agmen s se lemen 2 ( ype I) B
D 2,034 basic
sys ema ic
e y low abundance, mos ly in he wes e n pa
n=7, mos ly MES, 1 pos -NEOL densi y 4–5 bo h lowe and uppe g inde s in
lowe ens, in he wes e n pa bu ial 9 ( ype I) B
E 20 basic
sys ema ic
medium abundance
n=38, all p ehis o ic, badly wea he ed, mos ly MES
(Rocke S amp)
densi y 3 no lowe g inde s, less han 10 inds o
uppe g inde s 9 ( ype I) A
F 27 basic
sys ema ic
medium abundance
n=53, 1 pos -NEOL (o ganic empe ), he es
p ehis o ic, mine al empe , badly wea he ed, mos ly
MES, 2 NEOL
densi y 1–5 less han 10 inds o bo h lowe and
uppe g inde s 4 ( ype I) A
G 11 basic
sys ema ic
medium abundance
n=15, mos p ehis o ic, mine al empe , MES (Rocke
S amp o Simple Imp ession), 1 pos -NEOL
(wheel-made)
densi y 2 less han 10 inds o lowe g inde s, no
uppe g inde s 4 ( ype I) A
H 44 basic
sys ema ic
high abundance
n=253, mos p ehis o ic, mine al empe , wea he ed,
mos ly MES (Rocke S amp, Simple Imp ession), some
p obably NEOL, 1 pos -NEOL (o ganic empe )
densi y 2 less han 10 inds o bo h lowe and
uppe g inde s 3 ( ype I) 1 A
I 190 basic densi y 5 B
J 246 basic densi y 4–5 B
K 15 basic densi y 4–5 B
L 14 basic densi y 4–5 B
M 52 basic densi y 5 B
N 112 basic densi y 4–5 B
O 21,023 basic
sys ema ic
low abundance (E) and medium o high abundance (W),
in pa ches
n=65 (E) and 178 (W), some she ds join oge he (W),
mos p ehis o ic, mine al empe , mos ly MES (Rocke
S amp, incl. DWL), also NEOL, 5 pos -NEOL
densi y 3–5
also Palaeoli hic
lowe and uppe g inde s in high(e )
ens (E) and lowe hund eds (W), incl.
a la ge comple e lowe g inde on
g ani e; agmen o 1 s one ing om
an uppe g inde (E) and 1 egula
s one ing (W)
bu ial A
P 4,860 basic concen a ions o la ge agmen s o he same essels,
MES
densi y 1–2
also Palaeoli hic
compa a i ely la ge quan i y o s one
ings ( agmen s), many
( agmen s o ) lowe and uppe g ind-
e s, some inco po a ed in o s one
s uc u es
animal bones se lemen ,
bu ial
1 ( ype III)
39 ( ype IV)
0.5 m2
0.5 m21 A
Table 1 Ga n el-Tamada (SBK.W-67). O e iew o selec ed quan i a i e and quali a i e da a collec ed
du ing he su ace su ey in 2022. Wi h A ea O, E = eas e n pa , W = wes e n pa . Wi h po e y, MES =
Mesoli hic, NEOL = Neoli hic, pos -NEOL = pos -Neoli hic, DWL = Do ed Wa y Line. Wi h li hic densi ies,
1 = e y abundan , 2 = abundan , 3 = equen , 4 = in equen , 5 = sca ce o absen . Wi h bed ock ea u es,
he numbe o ea u es pe a ea is indica ed, wi h speci ica ion o he ype o suppo s ollowing in pa en-
heses: I = bed ock ou c ops, III = la ge blocks o slabs equi ing special e o o anspo , IV = smalle
35L. VARADZINOVÁ– L. VARADZIN– I. CREVECOEUR– N. MARTIN– S. HASSAN
A ea Size (m2)Su ey Mo able inds Mo able inds S one
s uc u es
Bed ock
ea u es
Exca a ion Ca ego y
Po e y Li hics G ound s ones O he TT M-S
A 2,308 basic
sys ema ic
ela i ely high abundance, bu wea he ed
and agmen ed, mos ly unclassi iable
n=70, mos ly MES (Rocke S amp, incl. DWL), 1 NEOL
densi y 2–5
1 gouge on ed hy-
oli e
bo h lowe and uppe g inde s in high
ens o low hund eds; 1 comple e
s one ing and se e al pieces ewo ked
om uppe g inde s
3 ( ype I) 1 m22 A
B 141 basic
sys ema ic
medium o low abundance, e y agmen ed
and wea he ed
n=6, mos ly MES (Rocke S amp, incl. DWL), also la e
(o ganic empe , NEOL, pos -NEOL?)
densi y 4–5 bo h lowe and uppe g inde s in low
ens 18 ( ype I) 1 B
C 538 basic
sys ema ic
sca ce o absen
n=1 ( o al sample), pos -NEOL densi y 4–5 less han 10 inds o bo h lowe and
uppe g inde s, all agmen s se lemen 2 ( ype I) B
D 2,034 basic
sys ema ic
e y low abundance, mos ly in he wes e n pa
n=7, mos ly MES, 1 pos -NEOL densi y 4–5 bo h lowe and uppe g inde s in
lowe ens, in he wes e n pa bu ial 9 ( ype I) B
E 20 basic
sys ema ic
medium abundance
n=38, all p ehis o ic, badly wea he ed, mos ly MES
(Rocke S amp)
densi y 3 no lowe g inde s, less han 10 inds o
uppe g inde s 9 ( ype I) A
F 27 basic
sys ema ic
medium abundance
n=53, 1 pos -NEOL (o ganic empe ), he es
p ehis o ic, mine al empe , badly wea he ed, mos ly
MES, 2 NEOL
densi y 1–5 less han 10 inds o bo h lowe and
uppe g inde s 4 ( ype I) A
G 11 basic
sys ema ic
medium abundance
n=15, mos p ehis o ic, mine al empe , MES (Rocke
S amp o Simple Imp ession), 1 pos -NEOL
(wheel-made)
densi y 2 less han 10 inds o lowe g inde s, no
uppe g inde s 4 ( ype I) A
H 44 basic
sys ema ic
high abundance
n=253, mos p ehis o ic, mine al empe , wea he ed,
mos ly MES (Rocke S amp, Simple Imp ession), some
p obably NEOL, 1 pos -NEOL (o ganic empe )
densi y 2 less han 10 inds o bo h lowe and
uppe g inde s 3 ( ype I) 1 A
I 190 basic densi y 5 B
J 246 basic densi y 4–5 B
K 15 basic densi y 4–5 B
L 14 basic densi y 4–5 B
M 52 basic densi y 5 B
N 112 basic densi y 4–5 B
O 21,023 basic
sys ema ic
low abundance (E) and medium o high abundance (W),
in pa ches
n=65 (E) and 178 (W), some she ds join oge he (W),
mos p ehis o ic, mine al empe , mos ly MES (Rocke
S amp, incl. DWL), also NEOL, 5 pos -NEOL
densi y 3–5
also Palaeoli hic
lowe and uppe g inde s in high(e )
ens (E) and lowe hund eds (W), incl.
a la ge comple e lowe g inde on
g ani e; agmen o 1 s one ing om
an uppe g inde (E) and 1 egula
s one ing (W)
bu ial A
P 4,860 basic concen a ions o la ge agmen s o he same essels,
MES
densi y 1–2
also Palaeoli hic
compa a i ely la ge quan i y o s one
ings ( agmen s), many
( agmen s o ) lowe and uppe g ind-
e s, some inco po a ed in o s one
s uc u es
animal bones se lemen ,
bu ial
1 ( ype III)
39 ( ype IV)
0.5 m2
0.5 m21 A
blocks anspo able wi hou special equipmen by ou pe sons o less (classi ica ion a e Da id 1998).
Ca ego y e e s only o he Mesoli hic e idence and assigns he a eas o one o he wo si e ca ego ies ol-
lowing he c i e ia de ined in Va adzino á e al. (2021): A = main a ea wi h subs an ial densi y and quan i y
o he h ee main ca ego ies o inds (li hics, po e y, g ound s ones) sugges ing long- e m o epea ed
occupa ion and p obable esiden ial unc ion, B = epheme al loca ion wi h an incomple e spec um and/o
low densi y o inds, sugges ing limi ed use and/o non- esiden ial unc ion
36 PRAGUE EGYPTOLOGICAL STUDIES XXXIII/2024
While no de ailed quan i a i e da a (excep o su ace densi ies o li hics) a e a ailable
o he emaining A eas I–N and P ( ig. 2), he da a collec ed du ing he basic su ey s ill p o-
ide impo an hin s as o he his o y o occupa ion o hese loca ions ( able 1). In wo na ow
elonga ed a eas wi hin he ou c op ma ked as A eas Iand J (190 m2 and 246 m2, espec i ely),
only hin sca e s o agmen s o ein qua z, in some cases wi h e idence o s iking, bu no
o he emains o human p esence, we e eco ded, sugges ing he wo a eas may ha e been
used o es he quali y o his aw ma e ial o li hic p oduc ion. Only e y low densi ies o
li hics and o he emains we e also eco ded in A eas K–N dis ibu ed be ween A eas Aand
Oalong he sou he n oo o he g ani e ou c op, sugges ing ha he use o hese compa a i ely
small a eas (measu ing be ween 14 m2 and 112 m2) in he pas migh ha e been limi ed as o
i s du a ion o he spec um o ac i i ies pe o med wi hin hei limi s.
Ma kedly di e en indings we e made when su eying he compa a i ely la ge le el
pla o m se wi hin he sou h -eas e n pa o he g ani e ou c op ( ig. 5). This A ea P (4,860 m
2
)
was ound o ea u e among he highes densi ies o li hics a he si e, in addi ion o high
abundance o Mesoli hic po e y, wi h concen a ions o la ge agmen s o he same essels,
signi ican quan i ies o g inding -milling ools and hei agmen s, nume ous agmen s o
s one ings, and singula inds o ea lie li hics, including one Middle S one (o e en Ea ly
S one) Age sands one handaxe.
2
In he sou h -cen al pa o he pla o m, ala ge concen-
2 No Neoli hic po e y was no ed du ing his i s su ey o he a ea. Ne e heless, gi en i s p esence,
e en i in meag e quan i ies, in mos o he assemblages collec ed in he sys ema ically su eyed
pla o ms, i s p esence also in A ea P canno be excluded.
Fig. 5 Ga n el-Tamada, iew om op o a hill in he sou he n pa o he g ani e ou c op owa ds sou h-
wes , showing he loca ions o h ee occupa ion pla o ms wi h e idence o signi ican Kha oum Meso-
li hic se lemen . In A ea P, a whi e o al indica es he loca ion o ea u e F.1, whi e do s pinpoin some o
he iden i ied g inding ables and slabs, and whi e numbe s poin o g inding ables no. 1 and 23 shown in
de ail on igu es 7 and 8A, espec i ely (pho o by L. Va adzin, upda ed by L. Va adzino á)
43L. VARADZINOVÁ– L. VARADZIN– I. CREVECOEUR– N. MARTIN– S. HASSAN
In o al, wel e une a y deposi s (bu ials) we e iden i ied in T ench 29. While one o
hem (B.14) was al eady known om T ench 22 explo ed in 2017 and 2018 ( ig. 12: D), he e-
maining uni s cons i u ed new inds and we e assigned numbe s in asequence in oduced
o his si e (B.28–B.37). The bu ials we e ound in all squa es bu we e no dis ibu ed e enly.
They o med ou spa ial g oups wi hin he exca a ed a ea, wi h some o he uni s occu ing
Fig. 11 Fox Hill, Pla o m 3, T ench 29. A – Uppe pa o he deposi a a dep h o 20 cm (MU2), wi h e-
mains o he ligh g ey-b own sil y laye (SU2) a he base o which he i s s a ig aphic uni s – ea u es
(F), bu ials (B) – and sca e ed agmen s o human bones (black s a s) could be iden i ied; B – Lowe pa
o he deposi (a e MU3, dep h 25–30 cm) in he cou se o exca a ion, wi h indica ed loca ions o o he
ea u es, some o which we e ound o cons i u e bu ial s uc u es (o hopho o by J. Unge using pho o-
g aphs by L. Va adzin, upda ed by L. Va adzino á)

44 PRAGUE EGYPTOLOGICAL STUDIES XXXIII/2024
45L. VARADZINOVÁ– L. VARADZIN– I. CREVECOEUR– N. MARTIN– S. HASSAN
in as a ig aphic ela ion o one ano he . Fi e uni s (B.14/F.100, B.28, B.34, B.32/F.98, and
B.33/F.98) clus e ed in he no he n and no h -eas e n pa o he ench (Squa es A, B, and D)
( igs. 11: B, 12: A, C, D), ou uni s (B.20b, B.35, B.36/F.101, B.37) o med ag oup in he cen al
pa o he ench (Squa es C, E, and F) ( igs. 11: B, 12: F), one uni (B.29/F.75) was si ua ed a
he wes e n o sou h -wes e n edge o he exca a ed a ea (Squa es E and G) ( igs. 11: B, 12: B),
and wo uni s (B.30, B.31) we e con ined o he sou h -eas e n co ne o he ench (Squa e H).
O he la e wo uni s, B.31 was si ua ed pa ly beyond he eas e n limi o he exca a ed a ea
( ig. 12: E), indica ing con inua ion o he bu ial g ound u he o he eas .
O he wel e une a y deposi s, nine we e associa ed wi h a isible g a e pi and/o asub-
su ace s uc u e made o pieces o g ani e placed a ound o abo e he human emains ( ig. 12:
B–D, F)– hese we e designa ed as ea u es and we e assigned unique numbe s in he sequence
es ablished o he si e. Whe e bu ial posi ion could be assessed, he indi iduals had hei lowe
limbs in acon ac ed (n=3) o hype con ac ed (n=4) posi ion and we e placed on hei igh
(n=5) o le (n=1) side, and, in one case, on he back wi h he lowe limbs u ned o he le
( ig.12: A, B, D, F). O he h ee uni s may also ep esen he emains o p ima y deposi s based
on some p ese ed ana omical connec ion o ana omical cohe ence o he skele al elemen s o
one ano he , bu he o iginal bu ial posi ion o hese indi iduals could no be econs uc ed due
o subs an ial incomple eness o he human emains (e.g. ig. 12: E). This g oup also includes he
agmen ed and e y wea he ed emains o he le uppe limb and agmen s o he c anium,
mandible, and ee h ound wi hin an o oid pi s uc u e delimi ed by s ones ha we e ound
a aplace whe e he uppe pa o body o indi idual B.20 eco ded along he eas e n limi o
T ench 22 we e li ed om he deposi s in 2018 (Va adzino á– Va adzin 2020: 124, ig. 2a; see
F.74 in ig. 11: B). As hey we e ma kedly mo e wea he ed and eco ded in aposi ion inconsis en
wi h he ex ended posi ion o he lowe limbs o B.20 in he o me ench, he human emains
in T ench 29 we e designa ed as B.20b o indica e ha he wo uni s migh no be associa ed.
O he emaining wo bu ial uni s, B.32 e e s o he c anial and pos c anial emains o
one indi idual ha we e con ained in he same s uc u e (F.98) as p ima y deposi B.33 bu
lacking ana omical connec ion (see ig. 11: B). The emains, highly wea he ed and agmen ed,
we e ga he ed along he no he n and no h -eas e n pe ime e o he s uc u e whe e hey
migh ha e been edeposi ed upon in e men o he la e indi idual. While B.32 ul ils he
cha ac e is ics o aseconda y deposi , he ype o deposi emains unce ain wi h B.34, o
which only he skull and uppe pa o he body wi h some p ese ed ana omical connec ions
← Fig. 12 Fox Hill, Pla o m 3, T ench 29, selec ion o bu ials. A – Bu ial B.28 on he solid g ani e boulde ,
wi h e idence o dis u bance in he a ea o he skull (now missing); he whi e o al ma ks he loca ion o
he pi -shaped ea u e possibly associa ed wi h ea u e F.109; B – Bu ial B.29 wi hin s uc u e F.75; C – Bu -
ial B.34 consis ing o he skull and uppe pa o he body in a e y cons ic ed space be ween g ani e boul-
de s; D – Bu ial B.14, whose cal a was ound p ojec ing om he eas e n sec ion o T ench 22 and ca e ully
emo ed om he deposi in 2018; E – Bu ial B.31 in he sou h-eas e n co ne o T ench 29, o which only
ches , e eb al column and pa o a hume us we e eco ded, wi h he lowe pa o he body missing and
he skull and he es o he uppe pa si ua ed beyond he eas e n limi o he exca a ed a ea; F – Bu ial
B.35 supe imposed o e bu ial B.37, wi h he g a e pi o he o me ou lined on one side wi h g ani e cob-
bles and agmen s o g inde s and ha o he la e s ill pa ly illed wi h s ones. Small whi e a ows poin
o g inde s and li hics ound in con ac wi h he human emains o inco po a ed wi hin he s one s uc-
u es associa ed wi h human bu ials (pho os by L. Va adzin (A, B, D–F) and I. C e ecoeu (C))
46 PRAGUE EGYPTOLOGICAL STUDIES XXXIII/2024
we e ound in a e y con ined space be ween g ani e blocks in Squa e A, bu no aces o –
and e en space o – he es o he body ( ig. 12: C). The p ocesses ha migh ha e led o he
o ma ion o his speci ic deposi equi e u he in es iga ion.
The human emains unco e ed in T ench 29 di e ed in hei s a e o p ese a ion, wi h
he in eg i y o he deposi s a ec ed by bo h na u al (bio u ba ion, wea he ing) and cul u al
( unca ion, des uc ion) ac o s and p ocesses. The s a e o p ese a ion has also limi ed he
possibili ies o es ima ion o sex and age wi hou an in -dep h an h opological s udy. Fo his
eason, only en a i e assessmen o age could be made in he ield based on bone ma u a ion
s ages wi h en indi iduals, o which eigh we e assessed as adul s, wi h i e possibly olde
han 30 yea s, and wo as imma u es.
In some o he une a y deposi s, lowe and uppe g inde s, including some la ge ones
made o g ani e, and la ge pieces o li hics we e ound placed o e he skele al emains (e.g.
B.14/F.100, B.28) o inco po a ed in o he bu ial s uc u es (e.g. B.29/F.75, B.35) ( ig. 12). Apa
om ha , he e we e no inds ha could be unequi ocally conside ed as g a e goods. In his
ega d, an in e es ing assemblage o se e al la ge ish and animal bones, agmen s o incised
wa y line po e y, and la ge laked li hic a e ac s was ound in api -shaped ea u e on he
side o he la ge, inclined g ani e boulde by he no he n sec ion in Squa e B. While i s
conside ed o be associa ed wi h B.28, a he bo om o whose deposi i was i s de ec ed ( ig.
12: A),3 subsequen cleaning o he a ea a e collec ion o hese inds iden i ied long human
bones su ounded by se e al g ani e cobbles and ex ending beyond he no he n limi o he
exca a ed a ea, indica ing ha he peculia assemblage migh a he be associa ed wi h an-
o he bu ial uni . Designa ed as ea u e F.109 o he ime being ( igs. 11: B, 12: C), his ea u e
con aining human emains was only documen ed and subsequen ly co e ed by ine sedimen
o p ese e he inds o exca a ion in one o he subsequen ield campaigns.
The sedimen su ounding he human emains and/o illing in he g a e pi s was ound o
con ain di e se ca ego ies o se lemen deb is. Simila inds we e mo e common in he a chaeo-
logical deposi ou side he g a es, which shows ha he g a e pi s had been exca a ed wi hin an
ea lie se lemen deposi , wi h he inds in oduced in o he icini y o human bu ials du ing
back illing o he g a es. The same is con i med by s a ig aphic obse a ions. In many pa s o
he ench he se lemen emains had been educed and ewo ked in connec ion wi h deposi ion
o he bu ials, wi h po ions o bo h se lemen laye s and non - une a y ea u es emaining in
he space be ween he bu ial uni s. Mo e subs an ial se lemen emains in si u we e p ese ed
in Squa es G and H in he sou he n pa o he ench. He e we unco e ed ea u es F.96 and F.102
( ig. 11: A, B) associa ed wi h dis inc se lemen laye s (SU3, and SU5 and SU11, espec i ely) and
ob ained la ge quan i ies o se lemen deb is, in pa icula li hics, agmen s o g ound s ones,
po e y, animal bones and ee h, bu also agmen s o wo ked bone and shell, pigmen , lumps
o clay, and mica. Se e al unusual inds we e also e ie ed om hese wo squa es, including
h ee agmen s o he same poin ed bone ool ( ig. 13: A) and a ew she ds wi h ypical do ed
wa y line deco a ion bu locally unusual o ganic empe ( ig. 13: B, C). A agmen o g ani e wi h
asmoo h conca e g inding su ace and pa o a wo -sided lowe g inde on g ani e we e also
ound associa ed wi h he se lemen emains in he sou he n pa o he ench ( ig. 13: D, E),
sugges ing amo e equen employmen o he local mic og ani e o g inding on his pla o m.
3 This assemblage was egis e ed as ind no. 44 in he sequence o inds in he a ea o B.28.
47L. VARADZINOVÁ– L. VARADZIN– I. CREVECOEUR– N. MARTIN– S. HASSAN
Fig. 13 Fox Hill, Pla o m 3, T ench 29. A – Nea ly comple e poin ed bone ool ound in h ee agmen s
in he uppe pa o Squa e H; B, C – She ds o po e y deco a ed wi h he do ed wa y line mo i wi h
o ganic empe om he uppe pa o Squa e H; D, E – Views om op and side o a agmen o lowe
g inde on g ani e wi h wo ac i e su aces (see a ows) ha o med pa o ea u e F.102 in Squa e H
(pho os by L. Va adzin)
In T ench 30, a es pi exca a ed a he e y sou he n edge o Pla o m 3 ( ig. 10), asimple
s a ig aphic sequence was e ealed, consis ing o wo s a ig aphic uni s benea h he collu i-
al su ace laye (SU1, dep h 0–7 cm): an uppe ligh g ey, sil y, e y indu a ed laye , con aining
g ani e g us (40%), Mesoli hic and Neoli hic po e y, and equen li hics (SU2, max. dep h
18–21 cm) and, benea h i , acoa se g ani e g us o med by in si u disin eg a ion o g ani e boul-
de s (SU3). A adep h o 29–32 cm benea h su ace, human bones ha we e pa o abu ial in
si u (B.38) we e ound p ojec ing om he sou he n sec ion o he ench ( ig. 14: A). Only he
lowe limbs in acon ac ed posi ion we e eco ded, wi h mos o he bu ial si ua ed beyond
he limi o he exca a ed a ea ( ig. 14: B). The bu ial was su ounded by ligh b own -g ey o
g ey sil y sedimen , sligh ly o mode a ely indu a ed, con aining g ani e g us (40–50%) and
48 PRAGUE EGYPTOLOGICAL STUDIES XXXIII/2024
inds o li hics, po e y, and spa ingly animal bones (SU4). Ala ge piece o g ani e wi h one
su ace ea u ing asmoo hed, sligh ly conca e wo king a ea and a agmen o asands one
lowe g inde we e placed wi h he wo king a ea upwa ds di ec ly on he human emains
( ig. 14: A). In he no h -wes e n co ne o he es pi , a adep h o 29–42 cm, b own sil y
sedimen ea u ing asmall quan i y o g ani e g us and only sligh indu a ion (SU5) o med
he ill o one o he dep essions in he wea he ed g ani e bed ock, whe e an animal bu ow
wi h ine yellow -b own lamina ed sedimen was also ound.
SIGNIFICANCE
T enches 29 and 30 exca a ed a Fox Hill made i possible o app oxima e he pe ime e o he
bu ial g ound on Pla o m 3, which p obably ex ended as a as he e y eas e n and sou h-
e n limi s o his pla o m (see ig. 10). Wi h he epo ed ield campaign, he o al numbe
o bu ial uni s on Pla o m 3 inc eased o 37 (B.1–B.3 and B.5–B.38).4 Ne e heless, his o al
ep esen s only aminimum numbe o indi iduals once bu ied a his place as an unknown
numbe o o he indi iduals may be concealed in he unexca a ed sec o s o he sou he n
pa o Pla o m3 and among he nume ous agmen s o human bones and ee h ound sca -
e ed h oughou he a chaeological deposi in T ench 29 as well as in T enches 3, 21, and 22
explo ed in p e ious ield campaigns (Va adzino á– Va adzin 2020; Va adzino áe al. 2022b).
A leas wel e indi iduals we e eco ded in T ench 29 (8 m2), wi h he a e age densi y o 1.5
indi iduals pe 1 m2 in his ench e en exceeding he al eady high densi y no ed in adjacen
T ench 22 (1.08 indi iduals pe 1 m2; Va adzino áe al. 2022b). As in he la e ench, he bu -
ials in T ench 29 we e dis ibu ed une enly, appea ing ei he as isola ed uni s o in clus e s.
S a ig aphic sequences o up o h ee bu ial e en s we e eco ded. The la e e en s o en
4 Bu ial B.4, which is pa o he same sequence o numbe s, was eco ded on Pla o m 14 (see Su-
ko á– Va adzin 2012; Va adzino á– Va adzin 2020).
Fig. 14 Fox Hill, Pla o m 3, T ench 30. A – Tes ench a e exca a ion o bed ock; 1 = bu ial B.38, 2 = ag-
men o a sands one lowe g inde , 3 = piece o g ani e wi h a smoo hed, sligh ly conca e su ace (scale =
1m); B – Lowe limbs o B.38 a e cleaning (pho o by L. Va adzin)

49L. VARADZINOVÁ– L. VARADZIN– I. CREVECOEUR– N. MARTIN– S. HASSAN
in ol ed educ ion o he ea lie inhuma ions and edeposi ion o he ea lie emains in o
la e deposi s, a es ing o acomplex his o y o bu ial deposi ions a he si e.
Reinco po a ion o skele al elemen s om ea lie bu ials in o la e uni s was also p es-
en a he si e o Sphinx, whe e a leas 28 g oups o edeposi ed human emains (seconda y
deposi ions, SD) we e unco e ed in he sou he n pa o he se lemen pla o m and in he
no he n shel e , in addi ion o 41 p ima y deposi ions (PD) (e.g. Va adzino á– Va adzin 2017;
Va adzino áe al. 2022a; B ukne Ha elko áe al. 2022). Based on a obus se ies o di ec
AMS adioca bon da es on enamel apa i e, he bu ial g ound a Sphinx has been da ed in o
awell -de ined bu ial phase om ca. 6700 o ca. 5900 cal BC (Va adzino áe al. 2023a). A Fox
Hill, on he o he hand, he e a e indica ions ha he sou he n pa o Pla o m 3 migh ha e
been used o bu ying o e amuch longe pe iod o ime, including no only he Kha oum
Mesoli hic, da ed in Jebel Sabaloka o ca. 8750–4750 cal BC (Va adzino áe al. 2023a), bu also
he Ea ly Neoli hic, da ed b oadly in cen al Sudan o ca. 5000–3800 BC (Ga cea 2020)– he
la e is sugges ed by bu ial B.19 in T ench 22 a Fox Hill wi h s one beads e ie ed om he
sedimen su ounding he skele al emains o an in an (see Va adzino á– Va adzin 2020;
Va adzino áe al. 2022b) and now also by bu ial B.28 in T ench 29 ound su ounded by he
loose sil y sedimen con aining mixed Mesoli hic and Neoli hic po e y agmen s.
The p esence o Neoli hic bu ials a he place o an ea lie hun e -ga he e bu ial g ound
sugges s ape sis ence o his bu ial loca ion ac oss he Mesoli hic -Neoli hic ansi ion ha
could indica e some o m o cul u al con inui y be ween hese wo epochs. The la e has been
adeba ed opic bo h in p ehis o ic a chaeology o he Sudan (e.g. Ga cea 2020) as well as in
biological an h opology ha ocuses on whe he he biological di e ences obse ed du ing
his ansi ion a e ela ed o in si u mic o -e olu iona y p ocesses o popula ion changes (e.g.
Ande son 1968; Ca lson– Van Ge en 1977; I ish 2005; Gallande al. 2016; Benois one al. 2018;
I ish– Usai 2021). In his con ex , once di ec ch onome ic da ing and cul u al a ibu ion o
he human bu ials a Fox Hill is comple ed, he con i med Neoli hic indi iduals om his si e
may ex end he possibili ies o s udying he Neoli hiza ion in cen al Sudan, including he
ques ion o biological a ini y o he Neoli hic he de s o he ea lie hun e -ga he e popu-
la ions in he egion (Ma ine al. 2024). The same da es will also make i possible o add ess
he ques ion o beha iou al s. ch onological a iabili y in bu ial p ac ices a Fox Hill and
be ween indi idual p ehis o ic bu ial si es in Sabaloka Wes .
While human bu ials cons i u e mos conspicuous emains o o me human p esence in
he sou he n pa o Pla o m 3, T ench 29 p o ides u he e idence ha he bu ial a ea was
i s used o se lemen du ing he Kha oum Mesoli hic. As in o he enches on Pla o m 3
(see Va adzino áe al. 2022b), he a chaeological deposi in T ench 29 has widely p ese ed
isible s a ig aphy, which is no as common a p ehis o ic si es in he wes e n pa o Jebel
Sabaloka and which signi ican ly ex ends he possibili ies o econs uc ing he pas human
uses o he si e. While small po ions o se lemen laye s and non - une a y ea u es we e
iden i ied in -be ween some o he bu ials in T ench 29, la ge emnan s o bo h ea u es and
laye s we e eco ded in Squa es G and H. Among hem, SU3, SU5, and SU11 a e o pa icula
in e es wi h a iew o hei associa ion wi h dis inc ea u es, he peculia dis ibu ion and
cha ac e o inds ound wi hin hem, and hei s a ig aphic ela ion o human emains a
he si e. Comple ion o s udy o he ind assemblages and adioca bon da ing o o ganic e-
mains om hese uni s is indispensable o es ablishing he ex en and iming o bo h ypes o
50 PRAGUE EGYPTOLOGICAL STUDIES XXXIII/2024
ac i i ies– se lemen and bu ying– wi hin Fox Hill and o add essing he ques ion o hei
con empo anei y o , as he case may be, changes in he use o some a eas o he si e o e ime.
CONCLUSION
Du ing h ee weeks in he au umn o 2022, impo an indings and obse a ions we e ga he ed
in he wes e n pa o Jebel Sabaloka h ough he wo lines o esea ch pu sued in he egion
since he au umn o 2011. Wi h Ga n el -Tamada, explo ed o he i s ime only in 2022, anew
majo Kha oum Mesoli hic si e eme ges in he geog aphically dis inc i e se lemen land-
scape unde s udy, p o iding u he e idence o pe sis ence o human p esence on ce ain
Kha oum Mesoli hic si es in Sabaloka loca ed u he om he Nile also du ing he Ea ly
Neoli hic and unp eceden ed inds which indica e ha s uc u ed spa ial a angemen s may
ha e been p esen a some o he la e p ehis o ic se lemen s in his egion. A Fox Hill, one
o he wo mos impo an and bes in es iga ed si es in he esea ch a ea, u he e idence
has been b ough o ligh conce ning he ma ked complexi y and a iabili y o la e p ehis-
o ic bu ial p ac ices in cen al Sudan, oge he wi h new da a ele an o es ablishing bo h
spa ial and empo al ex en o he bu ial g ound in he sou he n pa o Pla o m 3 and i s
ela ion o se lemen s a ig aphies. De ailed e alua ion o he ield obse a ions combined
wi h specialized s udy o he ma e ial inds and adioca bon da ing o dis inc se lemen
and bu ial con ex s is in p og ess and is bound o en ich he cu en unde s anding o la e
p ehis o y o he egion as ega ds bo h he di e si y o he hun e -ga he e way o li e and
he complexi y o he Mesoli hic -Neoli hic ansi ion in cen al Sudan.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We hank he Na ional Co po a ion o An iqui ies and Museums o he Sudan o hei
long - e m suppo o he Sabaloka (Wes Bank) Resea ch P ojec o he Cha les Uni e si y
in P ague. The ield esea ch in 2022 was made possible hanks o he inancial suppo om
he Coope a io P og amme p o ided by Cha les Uni e si y, esea ch a ea A chaeology, im-
plemen ed a he Facul y o A s o Cha les Uni e si y, and om he In e na ional Resea ch
P ojec ABASC (2020–2024) unded by he CNRS -INEE, F ance. This epo o ms pa o he
esea ch p ojec on “Se lemen and social ne wo ks o ea ly Holocene hun e -ga he e s o
he Eas e n Sahel: he case o Jebel Sabaloka in cen al Sudan” suppo ed by he Czech Science
Founda ion (no. GAČR 23-06488S, 2023–2025).
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