All about the ancient tribes
The Kerma culture was based in the southern part of Nubia, or “Upper Nubia” (in parts of present-day northern and central Sudan), and later extended its reach northward into Lower Nubia and the border of Egypt.
Where is the Kerma culture located?
Kerma, also called Karmah is an archaeological site and the former capital of the ancient Kerma Kingdom, located in the Dongola Reach above the Third Cataract of the River Nile in present-day Sudan.
Kerma was the capital city of the Kerma culture, which was located in present-day Sudan at least 5500 years ago. Kerma is one of the largest archaeological sites in ancient Nubia. As a capital city and location of royal burials, it sheds light on the complex social structure present in this society.
The Kingdom of Kerma was an ancient civilization that existed between 2500 BC and 1500 BC, with its capital at the city of Kerma. It was located in the heart of Sudanese Nubia and is the first provable sub Saharan kingdom to have existed.
Kerma is one of the largest archaeological sites in ancient Nubia. It has produced decades of extensive excavations and research, including thousands of graves and tombs and the residential quarters of the main city surrounding the Western/Lower Deffufa. Around 3000 BC, a cultural tradition began around Kerma.
Nubia, ancient region in northeastern Africa, extending approximately from the Nile River valley (near the first cataract in Upper Egypt) eastward to the shores of the Red Sea, southward to about Khartoum (in what is now Sudan), and westward to the Libyan Desert.
Farming and gold mining made Kerma wealthy. The location of the kingdom in the Nile valley helped Kerma become an important trade center. It connected Egypt with the tropical areas of southern Africa. The Egyptians traded with Kerma for cattle, gold, ivory, giraffes, leopards, and enslaved people.
Napata, the capital in about 750–590 bce of the ancient kingdom of Cush (Kush), situated downstream from the Fourth Cataract of the Nile, near Kuraymah in the northern part of what is now Sudan.
The legendary Kingdom of Kush, with its capitals in what is now northern Sudan, helped define the cultural and political landscape of northeastern Africa for more than a thousand years. Kush was a part of Nubia, which stretched from the Upper Nile to the Red Sea.
Nubians (/ˈnuːbiənz, ˈnjuː-/) (Nobiin: Nobī) are an ethno-linguistic group of people who are indigenous to the region which is now present-day northern Sudan and southern Egypt. They originate from the early inhabitants of the central Nile valley, believed to be one of the earliest cradles of civilization.
The first capital was Napata. Napata was located along the Nile River in Northern Kush. Napata served as the capital during the height of Kush’s power. Sometime around 590 BCE, the capital moved to the city of Meroe.
The Kingdom of Kush was ruled from Kerma While perhaps only 2000 people lived in the city of Kerma, distinctive Kerma culture is found from the 2nd cataract to beyond the 4th cataract, more than 200 miles. The city itself was dominated by a tall mudbrick temple, a palace, and a royal audience hall.
Based on ceramic materials discovered in the cemeteries on Sai Island and at Kerma, three chronological periods can be distinguished: Early Kerma (circa 2450-2050 B.C.), Middle Kerma (circa 2050-1750 B.C.) and Classic Kerma (circa 1750-1480 B.C.).
(T or F) The Nubians of Kerma grew wealthy from farming and mining gold.