Kerma is the name of a kingdom and cultural group in the Sudanese Nubia, which grew out of the A-Group culture (or pre-Kerma) during the Egyptian Middle Kingdom (ca 2000-1600 BC).
Kerma was both a political and religious capital. A large necropolis with approximately 30,000 burials is located at the site, including four massive royal tombs where rulers and their retainers were often buried together. These tombs are large mounds of earth and stone, called defuffas, two of which are associated with temples.
Politically, Kerma allied itself against the Egyptians with the Hyksos, and were a powerful group to be contended with.
Recent investigations by A.H. Thompson et al. have included stable isotope analysis of the individuals excavated from the cemetery by Reisner. These investigations have identified some evidence for status differentiation, and also suggest that Kerma was cosmopolitan, with a population made up of people from many different places.
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The City of Kerma
The capital of Kerma was one of the first African urban centers, located in the Northern Dongola Reach of northern Sudan above the 3rd cataract of the Nile. Kerma was occupied between about 2500-1500 BC.Kerma was both a political and religious capital. A large necropolis with approximately 30,000 burials is located at the site, including four massive royal tombs where rulers and their retainers were often buried together. These tombs are large mounds of earth and stone, called defuffas, two of which are associated with temples.
Politically, Kerma allied itself against the Egyptians with the Hyksos, and were a powerful group to be contended with.
Kerma Civilization
The Kerma culture, called Kush or Kushite by the Egyptians, was the first Nubian state, situated between the fourth and fifth cataracts of the Nile River in what is now the Sudan, between 2500 and 1500 BC. Early Kerma society was agricultural in nature and had round hut dwellings with distinctive circular tombs; later Kerma developed into a foreign trade-based society with mud-brick architecture, dealing in ivory, diorate, and gold.Archaeological Research at Kerma
British archaeologist George Reisner excavated at Kerma in the first decade of the twentieth century. Recent excavations have been conducted at Kerma by the Swiss Archaeological Mission in Nubia.Recent investigations by A.H. Thompson et al. have included stable isotope analysis of the individuals excavated from the cemetery by Reisner. These investigations have identified some evidence for status differentiation, and also suggest that Kerma was cosmopolitan, with a population made up of people from many different places.
Sources
Bonnet, Charles. 1995. Archaeological Excavations at Kerma (Soudan): Preliminary report for 1993-1994 and 1994-1995 campaigns. Les fouilles archeologiques de Kerma, Extrait de Genava (new series) XLIII: I-X.
Thompson, A. H., L. Chaix, and M. P. Richards. in press. Stable isotopes and diet at Ancient Kerma, Upper Nubia (Sudan). Journal of Archaeological Science.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
