Ancient Napata

Ancient Napata

Designated As World Heritage Sites (2003)

These five archaeological sites, stretching over more than 60 km in the Nile valley, are a 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.

Together they cover an area more than 60 km long. The sites (Gebel Barkal, Kurru, Nuri, Sanam, and Zuma) represent the Napatan (900 – 270 BC) and Meroitic (270 BC – 350 AD) cultures of the second kingdom of Kush. They include tombs, with and without pyramids, temples, burial mounds and chambers, living complexes and palaces. They exhibit an architectural tradition that shaped the political, religious, social and artistic scene of the Middle and Northern Nile Valley for more than 2000 years (1500 BC- 6th Century AD).

All sites are either in Karima town or nearby on both banks of the Nile, Karima is located northward of Khartoum with around 400km, on a large bend of the Nile.