Archaeology and the trade of the port of Suakin, Sudan

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• Laurence Smith, Wolfson CRA and Library Assistant; Research Fellow, McDonald Institute
• Wednesday 05 March 2014, 13:00-14:00
• Combination Room, Wolfson College.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact DJ Goode.

The Suakin Project is an archaeological and conservation project on the Red Sea coast of Sudan. Suakin was the main port of Sudan from 15th to early 20th century, important both for trade and for the Pilgrimage to Mecca. Archaeological work is directed towards establishing the history of architecturally and historically significant buildings, and investigating evidence for the medieval town and the origins of the settlement. The seminar will present a summary of the main archaeological results of the terrestrial excavations, but will concentrate on a reconstruction of the trade of the port from 15th to 19th century. During seven seasons, excavations have been carried out at four house-sites, the Governor’s residence and one of the two surviving mosques. The reconstruction of trading contacts will be based on secondary historical evidence for the later phases of the port’s existence, and on archaeological evidence for the earlier period. Contacts for the latest period of the operation of the port and for the earliest part of the period are also indicated by archaeological evidence, particularly the pottery recovered from stratified contexts. This evidence is used to provide a picture of the development of the trade at Suakin over time, and indicate the main regions with which this trade was carried on.

This talk is part of the Wolfson College Lunchtime Seminar Series - Wednesdays of Full Term series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• Combination Room, Wolfson College
• Wolfson College Lunchtime Seminar Series - Wednesdays of Full Term

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