This book is special in that it is the PCMA's first venture into the
field of collaborative archaeology. It was conceived to respond to the
desire of local communities to learn more about the history of the
landscape they have lived in and to the development of which they have
contributed. Old Dongola has been excavated and conserved by Polish
expedition for more than 60 years. The new project-Old Dongola:
Development, Heritage, Archaeology, initiated in 2019-has extended the
research scope to the post-medieval Islamic period and the living
heritage in the region, integrating active engagement and collaboration
with local communities as well as sustainable development. Old Dongola
is a continuously evolving heritage landscape, and this book, published
bilingually in English and Arabic, is aimed to raise awareness of its
importance among both the Sudanese and the international audience. This
brief introduction to the history of the urban site starts with the
founding of the city as the capital of the medieval Nubian Kingdom of
Makuria in the 6th century AD and continues through the present day,
showing how the heritage landscape of today was shaped by cultural,
economic, social and spiritual activities over the centuries. The
Christian heritage that has been uncovered and conserved by Polish teams
since 1964 is magnificent, yet the history of the city did not end with
the collapse of the Makurian Kingdom. Old Dongola remained an important
regional centre and the hub of Islamic teaching, and is the ancestral
home of local residents living in the surrounding villages. Hence the
strong ties that link the site to today's local communities. Therefore,
bringing together the results of archaeological research and the
knowledge and practice of local communities has been crucial in the
making of this book.
