Flooded Tombs of the Nile (Full Episode) | SPECIAL | National Geographic

Key Concepts

• Nubian Pyramids of Sudan
• Kingdom of Kush
• Nastasen (Nubian King)
• Nuri (Royal Cemetery)
• Underwater Archeology
• Shabtis
• Jebel Barkal (Sacred Mountain)
• Egyptian Influence on Kush
• Kushite Rule of Egypt
• Climate Change Impact on Archeological Sites

Excavating Nastasen's Tomb: An Underwater Archeological Expedition

Introduction

The video documents an archeological expedition to excavate the 2,000-year-old tomb of Nubian King Nastasen, located in the Nuri pyramid field in Sudan. The project, led by archeologist Pearce Paul Creasman and underwater archeologist Kristin Romey, aims to uncover new insights into the Kingdom of Kush and its history.

The Significance of Nuri and the Kingdom of Kush

• Nuri: This site contains over 80 burials of Kushite royalty (kings, queens, princes, and princesses). The concentration of pyramids in Nuri is remarkable, considering there are only 300-400 pyramids in total across Egypt and Sudan.
• Kingdom of Kush: This ancient kingdom ruled much of the Nubian desert, including Northern Sudan, from 650 to 300 BC. The Kushites were powerful and controlled vital trade routes.
• Historical Context: The video emphasizes that much of what we know about Kush comes from Egyptian records, which often portray Kush as inferior. Archeology offers a chance to understand Kushite history from their own perspective.

The Challenges of Underwater Excavation

• Flooding: The Nile River basin has risen over the centuries, flooding many of the tombs at Nuri. This flooding, paradoxically, may have protected the tombs from looting.
• Technical Difficulties: Excavating underwater presents unique challenges, including limited visibility, confined spaces, and the risk of collapse. The team uses surface-supplied air to mitigate some risks.
• Preservation: Artifacts recovered from the tomb are extremely fragile and must be kept wet to prevent them from turning to dust.

The Excavation Process: A Step-by-Step Approach

1. Diving and Material Retrieval: Divers enter the flooded tomb and carefully collect sediment and artifacts, placing them in buckets.
2. Surface Processing: Buckets are sent to the surface, where the contents are sieved to find artifacts. The material is kept wet during this process.
3. Documentation: The location of each bucket's contents within the tomb is meticulously recorded to create a spatial map of the burial chamber.
4. Safety Protocols: Divers follow strict safety protocols, including using guide lines and establishing emergency procedures in case of panic or collapse.

Initial Discoveries and Their Implications

• Gold Foil: The team quickly discovered thin gold foil, indicating the potential for a rich burial.
• Shabti Figurine: The discovery of a shabti, a figurine representing the king, confirms the tomb's identity as belonging to Nastasen. Shabtis were buried with the king to assist him in the afterlife.

Reisner's Previous Work and the Untouched Nature of the Tomb

• George Reisner's Excavations: American archeologist George Reisner excavated at Nuri in the early 20th century.
• Flooding and Abandonment: Reisner's team encountered flooding in Nastasen's tomb and only briefly explored it, retrieving a few shabtis. The video suggests that no one has entered the tomb since Nastasen was buried.
• Significance of an Untouched Tomb: The fact that Nastasen's tomb appears to be untouched is significant because it offers a rare opportunity to study a royal burial undisturbed by looters.

The 2018 and Subsequent Excavation Seasons

• Initial Exploration (2018): The first expedition in 2018 revealed that all three chambers of Nastasen's tomb were flooded. The team discovered gold flakes in a niche, confirming the tomb's untouched status.
• Increased Water Levels: In the subsequent season, the water level in the tomb had risen significantly, making excavation more challenging.
• Pumping Risk: The team decided against pumping the water out of the tomb due to the risk of collapse.

Key Finds and Interpretations

• Falcon Deity Statue Fragment: A fragment of a gold-leafed statue of a falcon deity was discovered. This is believed to be similar to the Hemén and Taharqa statuette in the Louvre, suggesting a statue of Nastasen making offerings may also be present.
• Charcoal: The presence of charcoal suggests burnt offerings were made during the burial.
• Leather Fragments: Fragments of leather were found, potentially from a hide mat used to wrap the king's body.
• Bone Fragments: Darkened bone fragments were discovered, possibly from the king's remains.

The Central Slab and the Potential for Discovering Nastasen's Remains

• The Mound and Slab: In the middle of the third chamber, there is a large mound surrounded by stones. The mound is approximately six feet long and three feet wide, roughly the size of a person. A large, flat slab lies on top of the mound.
• Hypothesis: The team believes that Nastasen's remains may lie beneath the slab.
• Rockfalls and Protection: Rockfalls from the ceiling may have crushed some artifacts but also protected the burial from looters.

Investigating Kushite Society Beyond the Elite

• Geoff Emberling's Excavations: Archeologist Geoff Emberling is excavating a town near Jebel Barkal to understand how ordinary people lived in the Kingdom of Kush.
• Urban Planning: The town appears to have been organized into city blocks, indicating early urban planning.
• Seal Impressions: Seal impressions found in garbage pits suggest a complex economic system with town officials overseeing storerooms.
• Timeline: Excavations have reached layers dating back to the 3rd century BC, potentially revealing information about Nastasen's time.

The Move from Napata and Future Research

• The Mystery of the Move: Around 315 BC, the Kushites moved their center of political power away from Napata. The reasons for this move are still unknown.
• Nastasen's Burial as Evidence: The fact that Nastasen was buried with royal resources suggests that the move was not due to a lack of prosperity.
• Future Research: The team plans to continue excavating the tomb and the town near Jebel Barkal to gain a more complete understanding of the Kingdom of Kush.

Conclusion

The excavation of Nastasen's tomb offers a unique opportunity to learn about the Kingdom of Kush and its history. The underwater archeological expedition faces numerous challenges, but the discoveries made so far are promising. The team hopes to uncover Nastasen's remains and gain new insights into Kushite society, economy, and political structure. The video emphasizes the importance of archeology in telling the stories of the underdogs and challenging historical narratives written by the victors. The work at Jebel Barkal also highlights the enduring significance of these ancient sites for modern Sudanese people.