Kingdom of Kerma 2500 BC–1520 BC → Capital Kerma Language(s) Nubian Government Monarchy hkʒw unknown Nedjeh History  - Established 2500 BC  - Disestablished 1520 BC

The Kingdom of Kerma was a state in Nubia from around 2500 BC to about 1520 BC. It was based in the city of Kerma in Upper Nubia and emerged as a major centre during the Middle Kingdom period of Egypt. It had a distinct civilization (for example very fine and original ceramics have been found). Kerma is renowned as the world's first major black African (Sudanese) civilization. It was an important part of the Ancient World: a major rival of Egypt.

Contents 1 Contrasting explanations 2 Historical periods 3 Science and technology 4 Arts & Architecture 5 Economy 6 Political Structure 7 Relations with Egypt 8 Kerma's end 9 Archaeology 10 References 11 Sources 12 External links

[edit] Contrasting explanations

The site of Kerma includes both an extensive town and a cemetery consisting of large tumuli. In the 1920s George Reisner believed that Kerma was originally the base of an Egyptian governor and that these Egyptian rulers evolved into the independent monarchs of Kerma. Reisner's interpretation was based on the presence of inscribed Egyptian statues in the large burials, which he thought belonged to those named individuals.

By contrast, modern scholars think the fort was a trading outpost: it was too small and too far away from the known borders of ancient Egypt to be more directly linked to it. Due to the overwhelmingly predominant Nubian material culture and burial practices at the site, scholars now think that the Egyptian statues and other Egyptian objects found at Kerma arrived through trade. The level of affluence at the site demonstrated the power of the Kingdom of Kerma, especially during the Second Intermediate Period when the Nubians threatened the southern borders of Egypt.

[edit] Historical periods

During the First Intermediate Period, the Egyptian presence in Lower Nubia disappeared. When at the beginning of the New Kingdom, Egyptian sources again mentioned the region of Kerma, they reported Kerma as in control of both Upper and Lower Nubia.

Under Tuthmosis I, Egypt made several campaigns south. This resulted in their annexation of Nubia and bringing an end to the Kingdom of Kerma.

[edit] Science and technology

Despite apparently being a non-literate society (although there is speculation that the elite may have known and used Egyptian-style hieroglyphs on some monuments - but in painted form), Kerma was ahead of ancient Egypt in some fields. It developed new technologies in fiance - most notably glazed quartzite - a difficult process, and was using fired bricks in its architecture - unlike any other part of the Nile Valley until about 1000 years later. The Kerma people also produced gold metalwork, and crafted objects of mica. They seem to have been skilled archers.

[edit] Arts & Architecture

Most Kerma arts were stylistically related to, yet distinct from, the arts of ancient Egypt. Some have argued that the region maintained techniques and motifs of the pre-dynastic Nile cultures, yet it is obvious that Kerma art was not merely conservative. For instance, Kerma produced a distinctive style of earthenware somewhat comparable to Japanese Raku. It was considered some of the best in the Ancient World at that time. There was also a range of pottery playfully designed to resemble animals. Crafts for royal use included wooden beds with mica and ivory inlays and glazed feet, and it seems that fiance inlays and murals decorated many public buildings. Houses in Kerma City were both round and rectangular, sometimes painted in bright designs, and like the ancient Egyptians, the Kerma people developed huge royal tombs, though in the form of circular, multi-chambered mounds rather than pyramids.

[edit] Economy

Both archaeology and Egyptian references attest that Kerma was the 'land of cattle.' There is evidence of vast herds and considerable social status related to ownership of herds. Egyptians raided Kerma for its cattle and it seems Kerma was known for its cattle-related products (including hides and milk). As a half-way point between Egypt and equatorial Africa, Kerma was also known as a source of ivory, leopard skins, and slaves. As well, Kerma people were involved in gold production and trade in gold.

[edit] Political Structure

Kerma was obviously a monarchy - some have argued an empire. As in Egypt, the state's ruler appears to have had far-reaching power and supernatural status. Some images seem to depict Kerma rulers wearing the equivalent of a Pharonic crown. Kerma City was the heart of the kingdom, and probably the largest urban centre, but there were many other - mostly small - towns and villages that evidently formed part of its polity, stretching as far south as the Fourth Cataract. Analysis of the remains of cattle buried at the royal tombs indicates cattle were brought from over a very wide area, suggesting some type of tribute system.

[edit] Relations with Egypt

Egyptian sources show that Kerma was generally considered a rival and threat, though at other times trade, movement and communication between the two kingdoms seems to have been extensive. Indeed, Kerma City was full of Egyptian items presumably obtained through trade. The massive Egyptian fortress of Buhen is viewed by some scholars as having been raised as a deterrent against possible offensives from Kerma. Forces from Kerma apparently raided Egypt with great success, carrying away major monuments and possibly controlling parts of Upper Egypt from time to time (for instance, Buhen fortress itself was subject to the King of Kerma for a while). There has been some speculation that there were some political marriages between the royal lines of Kerma and Egypt particularly after the conquest of Kerma (1520 b.c.)

[edit] Kerma's end

After conquest by Egypt (1520 b.c.), Kerma culture was increasingly 'Egyptianized' though rebellions seem to have persisted for a couple of hundred years. Throughout the history of the New Kingdom, Kerma/ Nubia was an important - even influential - part of the Egyptian Empire, with Pharaohs frequenting major royal shrines here. It is uncertain if there was much cultural continuity between Kerma and the Kingdom of Kush that began to emerge around 1000 b.c., although the royal funerary compounds of both Kerma and Napata (the Kush capital) betray similarities in design.

[edit] Archaeology

Currently, Matthieu Honegger is following the work of Charles Bonnet at the Kerma site, and the pace of discoveries has been striking.

In 2003, a Swiss archaeological team working in northern Sudan uncovered one of the most remarkable Egyptological finds in recent years. At the site known as Kerma, near the third cataract of the Nile, archaeologist Charles Bonnet and his team discovered a ditch within a temple from the ancient city of Pnoubs, which contained seven monumental black granite statues. Magnificently sculpted, and in an excellent state of preservation, they portrayed five pharaonic rulers, including Taharqa and Tanoutamon, the last two pharaohs of the 'Nubian' Dynasty, when Egypt was ruled by kings from the lands of modern-day Sudan. For over half a century, the Nubian pharaohs governed a combined kingdom of Egypt and Nubia, with an empire stretching from the Delta to the upper reaches of the Nile.^[1]

[edit] References

[edit] Sources

• Bonnet, Charles, et al. The Nubian Pharaohs: Black Kings on the Nile, AUC Press (February 22, 2007) - ISBN 977416010X
• Bonnet, Charles, et al., 2005, Des Pharaohs venus d'Afrique : La cachette de Kerma. Citadelles & Mazenod.
• Bonnet, Charles, 1986, Kerma, Territoire et Métropole, Institut Français d’Archaéologie Orientale du Caire.
• Kendall, Timothy 1997. Kerma and the Kingdom of Kush. National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Inst. Washington D.C.
• Reisner, G. A. 1923, Excavations at Kerma I-III/IV-V. Harvard African Studies Volume V. Peabody Museum of Harvard University, Cambridge Mass.

[edit] External links

• Kerma website, swiss mission Official website of the Swiss archeological mission to Sudan.

Coordinates: 19°36′03″N 30°24′35″E / 19.600802°N 30.409731°E / 19.600802; 30.409731