The Lower Torso of a Granite Royal Statue from Duweym Wad Haj

Archaeologists have uncovered the lower torso of a life-size royal statue at Duweym Wad Haj, a site potentially significant to the historical route between Gebel Barkal and Meroe via the Bayuda Desert. The statue, carved from granite and depicting a king seated on a rectangular throne, appears unfinished due to a crack in the stone, suggesting it may have been abandoned mid-creation. While no inscriptions were found on the back pillar, the discovery hints at the possible existence of a Kushite-period sculpture workshop at Duweym or indicates that stone material was transported from other sites like Sanam, Ghazali, or Gebel Barkal. The finding sheds light on ancient craftsmanship and trade practices in the region.

Smoláriková, K., & Hudec, J. (2021). THE LOWER TORSO OF A GRANITE ROYAL STATUE FROM DUWEYM WAD HAJ. Asian and African Studies, 30(2), 473–480. https://doi.org/10.31577/aassav.2021.30.2.09