Speaker: Dr. Krysztof Grzymski
The site of Meroe in the Sudan is one of the largest archaeological sites in Africa. It was the residence of the royal family of the ancient Kingdom of Kush from at least the 6th century BC until 3rd century AD. Archaeological explorations carried out in the 20th century unearthed numerous temples, palaces and domestic structures. Some of the most important discoveries were made in the 1970s by a joint University of Khartoum – University of Calgary expedition led by Professor Peter Shinnie. The Canadian – Sudanese fieldwork at Meroe was resumed in 1999 with the Royal Ontario Museum replacing the University of Calgary as partner to the University of Khartoum. The co-directors of this project were Shinnie’s former students, Ali Osman and Krzysztof Grzymski. Political upheavals, the pandemic and civil war in the Sudan brought archaeological and conservation work at Meroe to an end.