Prehistoric Occupation of Jebel Sabaloka

In 2009, a regional interdisciplinary research project was commenced by the Charles University Sabaloka Expedition in the area of Jebel Sabaloka and the Sixth Nile Cataract. The comparatively small area featuring diverse landscape units has since proved to be a geographically distinctive settlement landscape and an ideal laboratory for an in-depth research into prehistoric occupation in central Sudan. The research methodology has included repeated large-scale geoarchaeological surveys, analytical and specialised surface explorations, test trenching at most identified sites, and more extensive excavations at major late prehistoric settlements, in combination with a portfolio of archaeometric approaches applied to diverse categories of finds. Special attention has also focused on identification and evaluation of the degree of post-depositional transformations that may have altered the prehistoric archaeological record.