Image source: The official website of the Polish Archaeological Mission.
Sudanese circles were abuzz with the announcement of the joint archaeological mission between the Polish Center for Antiquities of the Mediterranean Heritage at the University of Warsaw and the National Authority for Antiquities and Museums in Sudan, of excavation and field results described as “unprecedented” at the site of the old city of Dongola in the northern state.
Through its official website, the mission revealed new parts and architectural details of an archaeological edifice believed to be the “Great Church of Jesus,” a building that historical sources describe as the largest and most ancient church in the Nubia region during the Middle Ages.
Ancient history and exceptional architecture
Old Dongola, historically known as "Tongol" and located between the third and fourth waterfalls on the eastern bank of the Nile River, is considered one of the most important cultural and archaeological centers in Africa.
The city was founded as a military fortress in the fifth century AD, and then became the political and cultural capital of the Christian Kingdom of Makuria from the sixth century until the fifteenth century AD.
Throughout its history, the city remained a major political, religious and cultural center, and witnessed transformations that were reflected in its buildings and monuments. It also enjoyed close political and economic relations with the Byzantine world and deep within the Islamic world.
The BBC was able to communicate with a member of the archaeological team in Dongola and an academic researcher specializing in archaeological plant remains, Dr. Muhammad Nasr al-Din, who said that continuous excavations at the site since the 1960s have revealed an exceptional richness in religious and civil architecture.
He explained that the excavation work resulted in the discovery of several churches and monasteries, most notably the Church of the Granite Columns, the Crusader Church, the Church of the Archangel Raphael, and the Monastery of the Holy Trinity, which are buildings distinguished by their advanced Nubian architecture and rare murals.
A turning point in the history of architecture
The last season of field work witnessed the researchers’ success in reaching for the first time the level of the original floor of the building at the main entrance area, after removing blocks of sand and rubble, which revealed a huge staircase extending into the interior of the church, in addition to large wall supports that were strengthening the building.
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According to preliminary archaeological estimates, the church is about 47 meters wide and 57 meters long, with an estimated height of 21 metres, making its total area exceed the area of the White House in Washington.
Parts of the walls surrounding the stairs remained standing up to a height of 11 meters below the surface of the soil, which constitutes an engineering challenge for the mission that requires unconventional excavation techniques to reach great depths, according to archaeological experts.
The head of the mission, Professor Artur Obowski, explained in a statement published on the mission’s official website that this edifice represents a turning point in the history of architecture in the region, adding: “Just as the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople formed a model for Byzantine architecture, the Great Church of Jesus is the natural candidate to play this role in Nubia and northeastern Africa.”
Archaeological experts believe that this discovery reshapes the archaeological understanding of the urban and religious planning of the old city of Dongola, as previous research relied on another church located outside the city walls as the main cathedral, a concept that has now been subject to radical review.
Despite indications that the building represents the “Great Church of Jesus,” Dr. Muhammad Nasr al-Din stressed in his interview with the BBC that, given the excavations and archaeological study of the building have not yet been completed, determination of the building’s final function, history, and interpretation of its architectural details should be handled with caution, until field analyzes are completed, and the scientific results are officially published by the specialized team.
Greek texts and the Upper Church
One of the biggest surprises during the field work was the discovery of a second church that occupied the upper floor of a building added to the eastern side of the cathedral.
Although its walls have collapsed to a height of approximately one meter, the ruins contain hundreds of colorful plaster pieces that require extensive restoration efforts, and complement the discovery made in 2023 of another added church on the northern side linked to the Nubian King “David.”
The mission also found pieces of plaster bearing inscriptions in the ancient Greek language among the rubble of this attached church.
The mission's text reading expert, Dr. Agata Deptula, explained that the analyzes showed that these writings form parts of evangelical hymns and chants appended to the Book of Psalms, the most prominent of which is the text of "Hannah's Prayer" (the mother of the Prophet Samuel).
The texts were distinguished by being written in precise handwriting and in very small letters that did not exceed half a centimeter in height. This is the first time that parts of these songs have been discovered at the site.
Signs of global openness
Within the framework of integrating archaeological sciences, Dr. Muhammad Nasr al-Din, who has participated in the archaeological team in Dongola since 2018 and specializes in plant archaeology, pointed out the importance of studying non-architectural environmental evidence to understand the lifestyle of the Nubian community.
He explained that laboratory analyzes of plant remains revealed the cultivation of major grains such as corn, wheat, and barley, along with legumes and vegetables.
He added: “Research of tobacco seeds discovered in the layers of the site showed early archaeological evidence of the arrival of this plant to the region after its movement from the Americas, which reflects the expansion of the city’s network of commercial and cultural exchanges with the outside world.”
Decades of work culminated in a unique discovery
The Polish mission has been carrying out its work in coordination with the National Authority for Antiquities and Museums in Sudan for decades, according to a clarification issued by the Sudanese Ministry of Culture and Information. The Ministry said that this mission was the result of continuous scientific cooperation for decades with the Polish Center for Mediterranean Antiquities at the University of Warsaw, noting that the mission operates with an official license and direct supervision from the General Authority for Antiquities and Museums.
The Ministry explained that the announced discoveries are due to the results of excavations in the previous field season, 2025, stressing that the mission will continue its excavation and field work at the site during the current season, 2026.
In late 2024, this site witnessed the most severe flood wave since 1988, which prompted the team to cooperate with the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Warsaw University of Technology to install roofs and engineering protection structures for the archaeological buildings before the start of excavation work.
In light of the fragility of mud-brick buildings in the face of erosion and rain, efforts are continuing to protect heritage, qualify Sudanese cadres, and prepare the file for including the site on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
What are the challenges facing preserving this legacy?
Academic and member of the archaeological team, Dr. Muhammad Nasr al-Din, believes that preserving this heritage remains a major challenge.
Pointing out that many of the site's buildings were built of mud brick, a material affected by natural factors, such as rain, floods, humidity, and erosion, as well as the effect of time.
He added, "Continuing documentation, restoration and maintenance work, providing the necessary funding, and strengthening cooperation between Sudanese institutions and international missions are necessary to protect the site."
Investing in training and qualifying a new generation of Sudanese researchers and archaeologists, and involving the local community in heritage protection efforts, represent an essential part of the sustainability of these efforts.”
He says that this discovery adds an important chapter to the archaeological record of Old Dongola, but it represents only part of the story of a site whose land still hides many secrets.
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