The potential for Historical Archaeology in the Sudan

Abstract Traditional archaeologies of the Sudan have long-focused on the more obvious and monumental achievements of its early 'civilizations'. The archaeology of more recent periods, however, remains largely neglected while little interest has been shown in developing research drawing on the great theoretical and methodological advances made in 'Historical Archaeology' in recent decades. Still framed largely around generalized distinctions between 'Christian' and 'Islamic' periods, the richness and diversity of local and regional histories of the last 1500 years have yet to emerge while a wealth of historical sources of many forms remains largely untapped.