Ceramic complexes of the mouth of Wadi el-Hawad: Features of Meroitic pottery under king Natakamani (morphology and archaeometry)

Abstract

The urban and temple centers of the ancient Sudanese kingdom of Meroe – Hamadab, Awlib and Abu Erteila are located to the south of capital, at the mouth of the seasonal watercourse Wadi el-Hawad, and flourished under the King Natakamani in the 1st century A.D. The study of the pottery shape features makes it possible to identify the morphological evolution of Meroitic ceramics, its functions, and local characteristics. Archaeometric analysis of pottery helps to differentiate the methods of its manufacture and belonging to production centers. As a result, we can say that each of the settlements could have own pottery workshops, which provided, first of all, their needs. Trade in ceramics was weak, and ordinary types of utensils were used in the exchange of their contents. The location of the pottery workshops identified in Hamadab and Muweis demonstrates the development of a planning system for their settlements according to a single model, clearly divided into residential and craft areas, being a characteristic feature of the production infrastructure of the capital region of the Meroitic Kingdom. Although the image of material culture of Meroe shows a high degree of centralization, clearly expressed in the unity of the temple and administrative architecture, and the style of household and cult items (primarily ceramics), we can conclude that the handicraft production and exchange of goods between Meroitic settlements were less centralized, which led to the creation and active functioning of their own pottery workshops both in large urban centers and small administrative and temple complexes.