Archaeologists excavating the residences of the ancient Nubian city of Old Dongola in Sudan unexpectedly discovered a complex of rooms hidden under the floor, writes ARTNews.

According to a press release from the Polish Center for Mediterranean Archeology at the University of Warsaw, the walls, built of sun-dried bricks, are decorated with Christian paintings dating from the Funj period (16th-19th centuries).. ), it is his scientists who are investigating, conducting their excavations.

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“The [gods] of excavation seem to have been kind to us in the last season of the [European Research Council] UMMA grant,” archaeologist Artur Oblusky tweeted, referring to “The urban metamorphosis of a community in a medieval African capital.”. With the assistance of UMMA, it was possible to excavate Old Dongola, also called Tungul in the ancient Nubian language..

One of the images shows a Nubian king worshiping Christ, having received a blessing, and Archangel Michael watches their meeting, whose wings hide both figures.. Another painting depicts Mary in an unusual style, dressed in dark clothes and holding a book and a cross..

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" The figure of the Virgin Mary on the north wall of the chamber also does not belong to the typical repertoire of depictions of Mary in Nubian art..

Archaeologist Obluska commented on the unique style and motifs in the paintings in another publication..

“These wall paintings negate the prejudice that Africans were trying to clumsily copy art from the North.. They were creative, adapting, not just embracing global trends to their needs, so the new paradigm must be Nubio- and Afrocentric.”.

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Not only paintings, but also the rooms in which they are stored, contain secrets.. The room is elevated above ground level, so it is unlikely that it was a tomb.. However, the room was rather small and surprisingly shaped.. One theory suggested by researchers is that the paintings were made at this secret location when King David and his army of slave soldiers approached Dongola..

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