The material culture of Muweis site (Meroe region): first data (Aminata Sackho-Autissier)
The ancient site of Muweis is under excavation and study by the Louvre museum since 2007.
After two seasons, the material culture collected from the surface cleanings and discovered in the
deep trials is typical of the Classical to Late Meroitic periods. The pottery collected in the trial of
eastern settlement (trial B) includes the decorated (painted and stamped) “eggshell” fine ware,
found at all levels in this trial.
Apart from pottery, many kinds of objects typically belong to the Meroitic material culture found
at other urban sites of the Meroe region. These are among faience plaques with cartouches
surmounted by feathers, decorated terracotta spindle whorls, fragments of basins and archers
looses. The great quantity of human figures collected in the trial of kilns (trial Fa) is of a type
well-known at Meroe in the Classical to Late levels. Heads and bodies are quite generally made
separately and were tied together with a small stick inserted into a hole cut at the base of the head
and on the top of the body. Mostly female’s figures are represented seated on their steatopygous
buttocks.
The type and shape of the seals and cretulae typically belong to the Meroitic material culture. The
seals are in terracotta, either button or ring shaped, with a small circular bezel with geometrical
patterns. The seal impressions are decorated with figurative designs such as ba-bird, baboon,
flacon, ram-headed seated figure, uraeus, ankh sign, etc.
The study of material culture collected during two seasons of excavations allows to think that
Muweis is one of the important urban centres in Meroe region in the Classical to Late Meroitic
periods.