Archaeological Examination of Cultural Interactions in the Upper Nile Catchment Areas

This book is the outcome of a PhD Thesis that made an archaeological examination of cultural interactions in the Upper Nile catchment areas in the period 6000-1500 BP. Specifically it made a comparative study of the Ugandan Kansyore sites (Kansyore Island and Island of Deserters) and Khartoum Neolithic sites in central and southern Sudan such as Lokabulo, Itohom, Jebel Kathangor, Shaqadud and Esh- Shaheinab.

The study examined the credibility of diffusion and migration theories as previously used to explain how cultures of Africa were formed and developed with the assistance of ecological theories to examine the state of cultural connections and affinity in the Upper Nile catchment areas. This involved examination of cultural materials like pottery decoration, vessel shapes, and fabric; lithic typology, and faunal remains. The aim of the study was to examine cultural connections and affinity in the Upper Nile catchment areas.

In this investigation, the study employed the basic archaeological field methods, which were survey and excavations but also utilised written records especially the ancient historical records and ethnographic inquiries. The findings included; lithics, ceramics, faunal remains, metallurgical remains, red ochre, daub pieces, and charcoal samples.