Tumplines, baskets, and heavy burden? Interdisciplinary approach to load carrying in Bronze Age Abu Fatima, Sudan

Abstract

Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB

In light of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, we extend our deepest sympathies to all those affected and emphasize the importance of supporting local communities and preserving their cultural heritage during these challenging times. We would like to extend our special thanks to the Sudanese National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums, represented by Dr. El-Hassan Ahmed, formerly Director of Fieldwork, as well as the communities of Abu Fatima and Tombos, without whom the material crucial to this research could not have been recovered. Similarly, we wish to express gratitude to Dr. Michele Buzon for her essential role in excavation and support. Additionally, our appreciation goes out to the collaborators at the Laboratory for Human Osteoarchaeology at Leiden University; Netherlands for their assistance during the bone analysis phase, particularly to Marijke Langevoort, Maryl\u00E8ne van den Hoorn, and Rachel Schats. We would also like to express our appreciation for the logistical support provided in Sudan by the late George Pagoulatos and his family and staff at the Acropole Hotel in Khartoum.

Leiden University, Universidad de La Laguna, the University of Graz, and the University of California \u2212 Santa Barbara assists with Open Access publishing of articles by staff researchers. The research of SS was supported by the Dutch Research Council (NWO VI.VIDI.201.153) and the National Geographic Society (Grant #9937-16). Fieldwork at Abu Fatima from 2015 to 2017 was funded through National Science Foundation Grants BCS-1359496 and 1359210.

This paper investigates different body techniques for carrying heavy loads by individuals buried at Abu Fatima, a Nubian Bronze Age cemetery in Sudan. Drawing on iconographic evidence from ancient Egypt and Nubia, as well as African and other ethnographic records, the paper aims to understand gendered patterns behind load-carrying practices and their traces on skeletal remains. A multi-proxy approach was employed, using various skeletal modifications associated with mechanical loading. Examination of entheseal changes, osteoarthritis-related alterations, and degenerative vertebral changes was conducted to investigate the impacts of muscle loading, joint stress, and spinal adaptations. Additionally, unintentional cranial modifications, specifically changes caused by tumpline use, were also considered. The results indicate gender-specific load-carrying techniques among the individuals buried at Abu Fatima. Men displayed evidence of unilateral entheseal changes and humeroscapular osteoarthritis, indicating involvement in activities that necessitated bearing load on one shoulder. Women displayed distinct degenerative changes to the cervical vertebrae indicating frequent musculoskeletal use of the upper neck.