Humboldt University Nubian Expedition (H.U.N.E.) : Works on the Riverbank

Since 2004 the Department of Northeast African Archaeology and Cultural Studies has been conducting fieldwork in in the area of the Nile Fourth Cataract (Northern Sudan) within the frame of the international Merowe Dam Archaeological Salvage Project. H.U.N.E. s mainland concession (hold by Frank Kammerzell and Claudia N?ser) covers the area between Gabal Musa and Sug al-Salam t. In addition, C. N?ser is responsible for works on the larger islands of Sherari, Shirri, Sur, Tibet and Us as well as on some smaller islets. The project aims at systematically surveying the area, tracing out the archaeological sites and investigating by means of excavation and documenting in detail the most significant ones. In addition to archaeological work, ethnographic studies are carried out, since not only the antiquities will be destroyed by flooding of 170 kms of riverbank after the construction of the dam, but also the traditional culture of the residents will cease to exist as a consequence of 40,000 residents belonging to the Manasir facing relocation by force and resettlement in several different distant areas.