Warsaw/ Exhibition on Polish research in Old Dongola - on Krakowskie Przedmieście

An exhibition presenting the history of Old Dongola, one of the most important archaeological sites in Sudan, as well as the history of Polish-Sudanese research at the site, can be viewed in front of the University of Warsaw Museum on Krakowskie Przedmieście Street. It will be on display until September 28.

The exhibition is part of the celebration of 60 years of Polish archaeological research in Old Dongola, located on the eastern bank of the Nile in Sudan. In recent years alone, they have discovered, among other things, the ruins of what is believed to be the largest church in medieval Nubia and wall paintings considered one of the world's most important archaeological discoveries of 2023.

The exhibition consists of 15 double-sided boards. One side presents the history of Old Dongola, as well as the history of Polish-Sudanese research at the site. The reverse side features the most striking artifacts: medieval wall paintings from Dongolan churches and monasteries, Agnieszka Szymczak from the Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology of the University of Warsaw (PCMA UW) told PAP.

The exhibition will be on view in front of the University of Warsaw Museum at Krakowskie Przedmieście 32 until Sunday, September 28.

- Through the exhibition, we wanted to tell the story of sixty years of Polish-Sudanese cooperation in Old Dongola: about the people who created and continue to create this place, about the everyday life of excavations, about the shared care for heritage and the challenges of its protection in the face of contemporary threats - explained Magdalena Skarżyńska, a conservator from the PCMA UW and a member of the expedition to Old Dongola, one of the authors of the exhibition concept.

The exhibition features paintings showcasing the richness of Nubian art: from monumental depictions of Christ and the Archangels, through scenes of rulers and founders, to narrative biblical cycles.

"Particularly unique are rare motifs, such as a dance scene combining local performance traditions with Marian devotion, Nubian rulers wearing horned crowns, symbolizing divine legitimacy, and innovative depictions of the Holy Trinity as three identical figures of Christ. In this way, we wanted to capture the extraordinary nature of this heritage and its significance for the history and contemporary identity of Sudanese culture," added Magdalena Skarżyńska.

Old Dongola, the capital of the medieval Christian kingdom of Makuria, flourished on the Nile from the late 5th to the 14th century. Polish archaeological research, initiated in 1964 by Professor Kazimierz Michałowski, continued uninterrupted for 60 years, until the outbreak of the Sudanese war in 2023.

The central part of the research area is occupied by the ruins of what could be called the royal district of the city. It is surrounded by a defensive wall, and scattered around are residential buildings, pottery workshops, forges, cemeteries, and numerous churches and monasteries. For many years, these were the main focus of research by the PCMA UW expedition. As a result, one in ten of the over 200 medieval churches known from Nubia were discovered in Dongola. Half of these churches retain magnificent wall paintings, rivaling the artistry of those in the Faras Cathedral, which can be admired at the National Museum in Warsaw.

The exhibition is organized by the Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology of the University of Warsaw and the University of Warsaw Museum. It was funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

Ewelina Krajczyńska-Wujec (PAP)

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