Eastern Deffufa at Kerma
Eastern Deffufa · Kerma Eastern Deffufa · Deffufa East · Kerma Funerary Chapel
Classic Kerma (c.1750–1500 BCE)·Kerma culture (Classic Kerma, Nubian)·🇸🇩 Northern State, Kerma basin 400 m southeast of Western Deffufa, near Kerma cemetery, Sudan
About
About Eastern Deffufa at Kerma
Funerary chapel massif contemporary with Western Deffufa (Classic Kerma c.1750–1500 BCE) but funerary: 40×33 m base, 18 m high mudbrick with niche façade, central hall with wooden columns, side chapels with bucranium deposits (ox skulls) and human sacrifices. Surrounded by Classic Kerma cemetery with large tumulus-pyramids 20–30 m diameter with subsidiary burials. Served as royal mortuary chapel for Tumulus Kerma elite (Tumulus IV south). Excavated Bonnet. Internal fire altars and offering benches.
Why it mattersMortuary counterpart to Western Deffufa sacred mountain; links Deffufa pair to later Napatan pyramid fraternity and bucranium cult.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Number of subsidiary sacrifices per tumulus
- 02Column hall roof structure
Theories
- 01Eastern Deffufa as Kerma royal mortuary temple analogous to Egyptian mortuary temple
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1750 BCE construction contemporary with Western Deffufa
- Period
- Classic Kerma (c.1750–1500 BCE)
- Culture
- Kerma culture (Classic Kerma, Nubian)
- Purpose
- Mortuary chapel / funerary massif for Classic Kerma tumulus-pyramid cemetery — royal mortuary cult
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.1750 BCE construction contemporary with Western Deffufa
Initial construction / foundation
c. 1200–600 BCE
Major use phase and refurbishment
20th century
Modern archaeological survey and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
19.6020° N · 30.4160° E · 252 m · 3 mapped features
Eastern Deffufa massif
pyramid40×33 m funerary chapel massif 18 m high
19.6020° N · 30.4160° ECentral columned hall
hall10×8 m hall with timber columns and bucranium benches
19.6021° N · 30.4162° ESouthern tumulus field
cemeteryCluster of 20–30 m tumulus-pyramids with chapels south
19.6015° N · 30.4165° E