War leaves Sudan's UNESCO-listed Meroe pyramids at mercy of shifting sands

Shifting Sands Threaten Ancient Pyramids

Sudan’s ancient Al-Bajrawiya Pyramids are being swallowed by shifting sands, with war bringing restoration work at one of the country’s most important archaeological sites to a standstill.

Footage captured on Monday shows the Al-Bajrawiya Pyramids, also known as the Pyramids of Meroe, with sand dunes creeping across parts of the site and some structures partially buried. Inscriptions can also be seen on the exterior walls of one pyramid.

Resident antiquities inspector Mohammed Mubarak said the war has hit the site hard, halting excavations, restoration and conservation work, as well as visitor management and day-to-day administration.

“The war has had a significant and obvious impact on the Al-Bajrawiya Pyramids site. Archaeological work and the activities of the expeditions here have been halted,” Mubarak said.

“The last time there was a noticeable presence of visitors and tourists was in 2022. From 2019 to the beginning of 2023, there were exceptional visitor seasons; people were eager to discover Sudan after the revolution,” he added.

War Leaves Restoration Work Frozen

But with restoration frozen and funding scarce, the desert itself is becoming a growing threat.

“The pyramids are made of stone and sandstone, both of which are susceptible to erosion from wind and sand, which could result in parts of them being lost,” Mubarak explained.

“Sand also accumulates on the pyramids’ walls, the funerary temples and the chambers in front of the pyramids. This may result in the erosion and loss of inscriptions,” he added.

Unsupervised visitors are another danger, Mubarak said, with vandalism and people climbing on the pyramids putting the fragile site at further risk.

Pyramids Date Back To Kingdom Of Kush

The pyramids date back to the ancient Kingdom of Kush, which flourished in present-day Sudan between the eighth century BCE and the fourth century CE. Meroe became its capital and a major burial ground for Kushite rulers.

More than 200 pyramids and royal tombs stand at Meroe, making it one of the most striking surviving sites of Kushite civilisation and its links with Egypt and the Mediterranean.

The archaeological sites of Meroe Island were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2011.

Sudan War Has Displaced Millions

Fighting between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces erupted in April 2023. Since then, tens of thousands of people have been killed or injured, around 12 million displaced and more than 25.6 million left facing severe food insecurity, according to United Nations figures.

Article by Viory.