World Heritage Identification Number: 1073
World Heritage since: 2003
Category: Cultural Heritage
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇸🇩 Sudan
Continent: Africa
UNESCO World Region: Arab States
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Exploring the Cultural Richness of Gebel Barkal and the Napatan Region
The Napatan Region, situated approximately 400 kilometers north of Khartoum, along the banks of the Nile River, offers a fascinating glimpse into the rich cultural history of ancient Kush. This expansive region, spanning over 60 kilometers, encompasses five significant archaeological sites, collectively recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003. Among these sites, Gebel Barkal stands out as a central hub of religious traditions and folklore.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
These five archaeological sites, stretching over more than 60 km in the Nile valley, are testimony to the Napatan (900 to 270 BC) and Meroitic (270 BC to 350 AD) cultures, of the second kingdom of Kush. Tombs, with and without pyramids, temples, living complexes and palaces, are to be found on the site. Since Antiquity, the hill of Gebel Barkal has been strongly associated with religious traditions and folklore. The largest temples are still considered by the local people as sacred places.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criteria i, ii, iii and iv: The pyramids and tombs, being also part of the special desert border landscape, on the banks of the Nile, are unique in their typology and technique. The remains are the testimony to an ancient important culture which existed and flourished in this region only. Criterion (vi): Since antiquity the hill of Gebel Barkal has been strongly associated with religious traditions and local folklore. For this reason, the largest temples (Amon Temple for example) were built at the foot of the hill and are still considered by the local people as sacred places.
Encyclopedia Record: Jebel Barkal
Jebel Barkal or Gebel Barkal is a mesa or large rock outcrop located 400 km north of Khartoum, next to Karima in Northern State in Sudan, on the Nile River, in the region that is sometimes called Nubia. The jebel is 104 m tall, has a flat top, and came to have religious significance for both ancient Kush and ancient Egyptian occupiers. In 2003, the mountain, together with the extensive archaeological site at its base, were named as the center of a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Jebel Barkal area houses the Jebel Barkal Museum.Additional Site Details
Area: 182.5 hectares
(ii) — Significant interchange of human values
(iii) — Unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
(vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions
Coordinates: 18.537 , 31.8280277778
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© LassiHU, CC BY-SA 4.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
