27/11/2022
Polish Efforts (archaeologist 1998-2022)
Despite being the most famous to date, the discovery at Faras is not the only Polish archeological mission in Sudan. Since 1964, in the capital city of medieval Nubia – Old Dongola, where in addition to a fortified town area, palaces, 15 churches, also more than a hundred mural paintings were found in a local monastery and other buildings. Steady progress has been made since 1998 at Banganarti, where most recently, in 2016, efforts by Polish archeologists resulted in the discovery of several dozen paintings inside Rafaelion church. Poles have conducted archeological works in Sudan continuously since Michałowski’s mission. Currently, there are 14 teams and 100 people at multiple sites including: a shepherd village in Kadero, cemeteries at El-Detti and El-Zuma, survey works at the Bayuda Desert, a monastery at Ghazali, a Mesolithic agglomeration at Khour Shambat, and a fortified village in Selib, Third Cataract area, and the ancient town of Soba.
Mirosław Masojć, associate professor at the University of Wrocław, leads a team in search of multiple Acheuluean sites across the Arabian desert in Sudan. He regards the cooperation between Sudanese and Polish archeological missions and institutions to be very positive. Agreements, such as the one the University of Wrocław has with Al-Neelain University, are not uncommon, and their Sudanese partners are always ready to provide logistical and scientific support. The cooperation runs smoothly and no one is trying to obstruct it. Even during the Cold War, when Poland and Sudan found themselves at times in different camps, the Sudan Antiquities Service was apolitical, and its professionalism allowed for complete lack of discrimination against Polish researchers. A long-time leader of Polish research in Dongola, professor Stefan Jakobielski, stated that the Sudan Antiquities Service has always shown Polish archaeological missions professional help and courtesy, which is why the works and cooperation never suffered disturbances appearing in the country. “Polish archeologists are very highly rated by the Sudanese side,” says in turn Masojć , adding: “Polish and Sudanese archeologists operate based on mutual trust”. One of the reasons for that trust is the Poles’ meticulousness and careful approach. Perhaps less obvious is that none of the relics and artefacts discovered by Poles end up at private auctions. Great care is taken to preserve them in a proper manner and location. “Along with a few other countries, we constitute the most serious archeological team in Sudan,” he adds.
Polish efforts to uncover and catalogue the historical riches of Sudan have been recognised by the local authorities. In April 2002, two Polish archeologists, Stefan Jakobielski and L**h Krzyżaniak were awarded the highest national distinction – the Order of the Two Niles – in recognition of their contributions to Sudanese culture and science. Bogdan Żurawski, who was among those to discover the Kush*te temple in Sonijat, was awarded for his efforts with a diploma, a medal from the Sudanese Antiquities Service as well as 60 crates - about a metric ton - of antiquities which are now exhibited at the National Museum in Warsaw.
Article written by: ministry of foreign affairs, Sudan