A possible monastery and the ‘Upper Maqs’ at Ukma-­Akasha West?

This paper summarizes previously unpublished records relating to a series of unusual, and perhaps associated enclosed medieval settlements in the area of Akasha and Ukma West, excavated in 1969 by the Archaeological Survey of Sudanese Nubia. When excavated, one [21-N-11], which contained a small church was thought likely to have been a monastery. An unusual site closeby is also briefly discussed. Two other enclosed sites, and perhaps a further uncompleted example, have some features in common with the putative monastic sites, although other functions may be considered. That some of these might relate to the historically recorded government outpost (the ‘Upper Maqs’) is also possible. While definitive identifications cannot be proposed a number of features of these sites, which cannot be easily be paralleled elsewhere in Nubia suggests their wider interest, and they merit further study.