| Kingdom of Kerma | ||||
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| Capital | Kerma | |||
| Language(s) | Nubian | |||
| Government | Monarchy | |||
| Nedjeh | ||||
| History | ||||
| - Established | 1700 BC | |||
| - Disestablished | 1550 BC | |||
The Kerma culture is a prehistoric culture which flourished from around 2500 BCE to about 1520 BCE in what is now Sudan, centered at Kerma. It emerged as a major centre during the Middle Kingdom period of Ancient Egypt. In its latest phase, the Kingdom of Kerma forms, lasting from about 1700–1550 BCE, before being absorbed into the Egyptian Empire. By the 11th century BCE, the Kingdom of Kush regains independence from Egypt.
The site of Kerma that forms the heart of the Kingdom of Kerma includes both an extensive town and a cemetery consisting of large tumuli. The level of affluence at the site demonstrated the power of the Kingdom of Kerma, especially during the Second Intermediate Period when the Nubians threatened the southern borders of Egypt.
When Kerma was first investigated, in the 1920s, George Reisner believed that it was originally the base - a fort - of an Egyptian governor and that these Egyptian rulers evolved into the independent monarchs of Kerma. Reisner's interpretation was based on the presence of inscribed Egyptian statues in the large burials, which he thought belonged to those named individuals. Moreover, in this period, few archaeologists credited black Africans with producing civilizations.
In later decades, scholars moved to the view that Kerma was a trading outpost of the Egyptians, being too small and far away from the known borders of ancient Egypt to be more directly linked to it.
However, in the past ten to fifteen years, excavations have revealed that Kerma City was much larger and more complex than previously assumed. It was also realized that the material culture and burial practices here are overwhelmingly local (Nubian) rather than Egyptian.
During the First Intermediate Period, the Egyptian presence in Lower Nubia disappeared. When at the beginning of the New Kingdom, Egyptian sources again mentioned the region of Kerma, they reported Kerma as in control of both Upper and Lower Nubia.
Under Tuthmosis I, Egypt made several campaigns south. This resulted in their annexation of Nubia and bringing an end to the Kingdom of Kerma.
After conquest by Egypt (1520 BCE), Kerma culture was increasingly 'Egyptianized' though rebellions continued for 200 years (c.1300 BCE). Throughout the history of the New Kingdom, Kerma was an important part of the Egyptian Empire. It is uncertain if there how much cultural continuity existed between Kerma and the Kingdom of Kush that began to emerge around 1000 BCE. However, the Kushite kings continued to use Kerma for royal burials and special ceremonies, suggesting some connection between their family and the Kerma rulers. Moreover, the layout of royal funerary compounds in both Kerma and Napata (the Kush capital) are designed rather similarly.
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In 2003 Archaeologist Charles Bonnet heading a team of Swiss archaeologists excavating near Kerma discovered a cache of monumental black granite statues of the Pharaohs of the Nubian dynasty including Taharqa and Tanoutamon, the last two pharaohs of the 'Nubian' Dynasty, whose statues are described as "masterpieces that rank among the greatest in art history."[1]