Ancient Nubia, a mysterious yet miraculous place that continuously evolved over
centuries, was inhabited by a group of indigenous people known as the Nubians. Located in what
is now the Sudan region of Africa, their geographical location played a key role in their culture.
In Africa, west of the Rift Valley river, is considered to be the birthplace of their civilization.
Being once viewed as “riverine people” due to their location, they had transformed into an
enormous civilizations that flourished between the time periods of 2500 – 1500 BCE. Through
the examination of their vast culture portrayed through their burial sites and art, this paper will
pinpoint on the origins of the Kingdom of Kerma as well as their economic status and religion
that developed within this great civilization.
The origins of the Kingdom of Kerma can be dated around the time of 3500 - 2700 BCE
at a settlement known as “Pre-Kerma” located 1.5 miles east of the Nile river. Their buildings
were “round, with conical roofs, and were made of vertical posts and woven mats, sometimes
covered by layers of mud plaster” (Nubianet). These buildings can still be found today in some
parts of Sudan. This settlement was known for the earliest indication of agriculture and animal
husbandry; the key factor in facilitating the spread of agriculture to the Near East and other parts
of North Africa (sudan). This was a major step in the flourishing of the Kingdom of Kerma.
Transforming from a hunting and gathering society, they are now able to breed and grow their
own foods which in return increased the size of their populations opening up more trading
possibilities with Egypt. Nubia was Egypt closest trading partner. Pottery and copper weapons
were exported from Egypt to Nubia while exotic animal skin, ivory, resinous incent, and ebony
used for carving was exported from Nubia to Egypt (footnote). Trade routes will become an
essential way of life for the Kingdom of Kerma, exemplifying their wealth in the process.
The Kingdom of Kerma was a prosperous civilization that dominated the trade routes
during this time period. Despite their rivaling history, the Nubians and Egyptians had a strong
alliance in trading. If anything remotely seemed threatening to the trade routes between the two,
a form of action will be taken to secure their safety. The Nubian kings grew wealthy through the
control of the trade routes that connected central Africa to Egypt (book). The dominated all
trade routes along the Nile river heading south to gain raw materials to trade with the Egyptians.
In the Western Deffufa, a giant mass of mud brick platform, was known as an enormous watch
tower that permitted the palace to scan the river for the arrival of trading convoys (jstour). Inside
this Deffufa is where the contained all the raw materials that was collected. However, these trade
routes were not the only thing that has helped the Kingdom of Kerma to prosper. Its geographical
location also played an important role in the civilization’s wealth. Its abundance of cattle and
gold were another factor in their economic make up. As the value of begin to increase around the
continent of Africa, the more interaction the Nubians received in trade routes. It was during this
Classical Kerma phase that the culture reached its peak and wealth(book).
Ancient Nubia pottery has been founded in regions all over Africa. Polished surface and
black rims, these finely made pots were made by hand from the women in Ancient Nubia
society. This technique is still found today in a local village by women outside the city of Kerma.
They mixed goat poop along with clay and red slit is designed to get the surface just right.
Coarse enough to keep the contents cool inside. Another form of art during this time period was
rock art (documentary). The rock art found in the city of Kerma shed insight on the lives of this
civilization. Specific animals such as cattle were being painted all over as a significant figure in
their culture. Without the rock art, the culture of the Nubians would have been difficult to
discover. Music and dance can be incorporated in Nubian art. Using musical instruments such as
rock gongs, rocks whose surface has been smoothed cleaned and hallow insides (documentary),
provided music for a well-practiced dance known as Cambala. The dance Cambala was the
Nubians most important dance. This dance is performed in ceremonies that initiate young men
into members of society (documentary). The songs sang during the ceremonies is of cattle.
Wealth in the Kingdom of Kerma was measured in cattle. This is shown through the
burial sites. The Eastern cemetery of Kerma is over one hundred meters wide and contains more
than 30,000 graves. The graves are low tumuli covered or ringed with hundreds or thousands of
white or black desert pebbles. The dead were interred into round oval pits, five feet deep, with
food offerings and their belongings. Lying on their right side in a flex position, their hands were
place in front of their face looking north. They lay as if they were sleeping. Body covered by
cowhide and then the grave was later filled (website). Over 5,000 cattle skulls were found on the
edge of the tomb around the edges of the mound (documentary). Cattle slain were a part of the
offering that has been offered with this person. Human sacrifices were also a part of the Nubian
burials. Over 300 people were sacrificed. Men, women, and children will provide service to the
masters in the life after. They believed in an afterlife where the deceased was required to do hard
labor ordained by the gods. Being buried with servants assisted the deceased with the hard labor.
(sudan) Also, the dead was buried with their possessions. Depending on the wealth of the
decease will determine the amount of possessions the person is buried with. Cattles were not the
only ones among these possessions. Grave goods consisted of beaded jewelry, amulets, cattle
heads, ivory bracelets and pottery. In the southern boarder of the cemetery marked by a huge
rock with a smooth surface known as the Eastern Deffufa, was the burial of four powerful kings.
The Eastern Deffufa was associated with the worshiper preparation for the burials of kings.
(website)
In the heart of the Kingdom of Kerma is a giant mud brick structure known as a Deffufa.
This is known to be the oldest and one of the largest mud brick in Africa. Being a piece of
geography, the Deffufa was known as a temple (documentary). There was two Deffufas in the
Kingdom of Kerma, one symbolized the an Egyptian trading post while the other symbolized a
religious purpose. Inside one Eastern Deffufa’s temple were statues of Amon, the ram-headed
the creator god (ancientsudan.org). The Kerma religion was polytheism and giving animal like
characteristics with many gods playing different roles in the universe. They believed that at one
point in time the whole earth was covered in water. Through the rising of a mound out of the
water, Atum was born. Atum was classified as the creator and was often of the time portrayed as
an old man or with a rams heading connection to Amon. The first god then gave birth to Shu and
Tefnut. Shu was the first man on earth whereas Tefnut was the first woman goddess. Later, Shu
and Tefnut married and gave birth to Geb and Nut. Geb was the god the Earth and Nut was the
god of the skies. Geb and Nut gave birth to the gods Osiris (god of pharaohs), Isis (god of
motherhood), Nephthys (protector of the dead) and Seth (god of devastation). These gods were
later determined to be the most two important gods in Nubia (sudan). Other gods outside of this
narrative also existed in their religion. Bes was a house god that protected from evil spirits and
brings good luck. The Eye of Re was a female goddess who was a protector also another
protector of the pharaohs. Sebiemeker was a major god in Nubian culture. He was viewed as the
guardian god. These were the significant deities that make up the Nubian religion.
Ancient Egypt was not the only great civilization that thrived during this time period.
Through careful analysis, the lost kingdom of Ancient Nubia begins to emerge dating all the way
back to 3500 BCE. No longer a mystery, the origins of Kingdom of Kerma transpire from a
settlement known as “Pre Kerma” that assisted in this prominent kingdom make up. This newly
agricultural based settlement has pushed the frontiers for the Kingdom of Kerma to domesticate
animals and build up an entire civilization. Their culture flourished portraying their economic
status through the different trade routes as well as their beliefs in the many gods who shaped
their religion through their detail pictures displayed on rocks. The Kingdom of Kerma was one of
the earliest African civilizations to ever emerged, long before the Egyptian pharaohs bombarded
in to take over. Some of their cultural aspects are still being practiced today in the state of Sudan
long after this civilization vanishes. The legacy of the Kingdom of Kerma had a major impact on
history because it was the beginning of many great civilizations that will soon evolve from this
great place.