Followup to an earlier posting. Glenn

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3239899/Pyramids-discovered-ancient-Sudanese-cemetery-2-000-year-old-structures-built-dead-hid-offerings-god-Osiris.html

Offerings to the god Osiris found hidden beneath ancient Sudanese pyramids: 2,000-year-old structures marked Kushite graves

• Pyramid ruins have been discovered near the ancient town of Gematon
• 2,000-year-old structures have tombs beneath, but most have been robbed
• Once revealed an offering table dedicated to Osiris, god of the underworld
• God also features in many Ancient Egyptian tombs and pyramids 

By Sarah Griffiths for MailOnline

Published: 07:28 EST, 18 September 2015 | Updated: 07:37 EST, 18 September 2015

Pyramids are synonymous with the ancient Egyptians but other neighbouring civilisations similarly built the structures to commemorate their dead. 

Researchers excavating a region in Sudan have uncovered the ruins of 16 such pyramids on what would have been the site of an ancient cemetery.

The 2,000-year-old structures have tombs underneath, one of which revealed an offering table dedicated to the god of the underworld, Osiris. 

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Ruins of 16 pyramids have been discovered in an ancient cemetery in Sudan. The 2,000-year-old structures (one pictured), made from either mud bricks or stone, have tombs underneath. Kushites built pyramids for the dead from around 800 BC until their kingdom collapsed in approximately 400AD

The Sudanese pyramids were built near the ancient town of Gematon, which was part of the Kingdom of Kush. 

Kushites built pyramids for the dead from around 800 BC until their kingdom collapsed in approximately 400AD.

A team from the British Museum in London has been excavating the site for 17 years.

Derek Welsby, assistant keeper of Sudan and Egyptian Nubia at the Museum told LiveScience: 'So far, we've excavated six [pyramids] made out of stone and 10 made out of mud brick.'  

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In one tomb below a pyramid, archaeologists found an offering table which features a carving showing a priest offering incense to the ruler of the underworld, Osiris (pictured above)

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The Kingdom of Kush (shaded area) was the first urban society in sub-Saharan Africa. It predominately lies in what is now the Republic of Sudan (also marked)

THE KINGDOM OF KUSH 

The Kingdom of Kush was the first urban society in sub-Saharan Africa.

It lies in what is now the Republic of Sudan.

Dates of when it was established vary widely from 1070 BC to 800BC.

The capital, Meroe, where pyramids can be found, disintegrated in around 400AD.

Excavations at the site of Kerma, the ancient capital of the Kushite kingdom, have revealed residential and industrial areas, cemeteries, palaces and two huge mud-brick buildings known as deffufa, which may have had a religious function, perhaps as temples, according to The British Museum. 

The most iconic objects of the Kerma culture are delicate handmade pottery vessels, which highlight the technological sophistication of this period.

Because of Kush's proximity to Ancient Egypt, and because the 25th dynasty rules over both states in the eighth century BC, it shared some features such as gods, but had distinct cultural elements too. 

The largest pyramid would have been 43 feet (13 metres) tall with a base measuring 35 feet (11 metres) on each side.

Unlike in Ancient Egypt, where pyramids were only built for royalty and members of the elite, he said: 'They're [the Kushite pyramids] not just the upper-elite burials,' he said.

In one tomb below a pyramid, archaeologists found an offering table which features a carving showing a priest offering incense to the ruler of the underworld Osiris.

Osiris often takes the form of a bird as well as a man and is a regular feature in ancient Egyptian tombs along with the goddess Isis, whom is also shown in the Kushite scene.

The gods, who originated in Egypt were widely worshipped in Kush.

But, despite the Egyptian influence, because the lands of Nubia, or the Nile Valley, connected the south of Egypt with north Sudan, the Nubian and Sudanese cultures had their own distinct identities.

Dr Welsby believes the table is a royal object, signifying a senior member in the royal family must have been laid to rest in the tomb.

The find is of particular importance because many of the tombs below the pyramids and other rectangular structures called 'mastaba' have been emptied by robbers.

The only tomb beneath a pyramid that's been found intact revealed the remains of three infants as well as 100 ceramic faience, or glazed, beads.  

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Kushites built pyramids for the dead from around 800 BC until their kingdom collapsed in approximately 400AD. Ruins are shown. The only tomb beneath a pyramid that's been found intact (pictured), revealed the remains of three infants as well as 100 ceramic faience beads

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Osiris is a regular feature in ancient Egyptian tombs (shown here in a painting from the Tomb of Pashedu in luxor) along with the goddess Isis, whom is also shown in the Kushite scene

More complete royal pyramids have previously been found at Nuri and some are still standing in cemetaries in Meroe, which was the capital in the latter stages of the kingdom.

The building of pyramids stopped when the Kingdom of Kush collapsed, which may have been due to financial problems.

Trading with the Romans slowed as the Empire became less powerful and trade routes in the area started to bypass the Nile around Kush, preventing valuable trading opportunities.

As the Kushite leaders' wealth faded, Gematon was abandoned the pyramids gradually covered in sand.

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The Kush capital of Meroe, where pyramids can be found, disintegrated in around 400AD. A pyramid from the south cemetery is pictured

Read more:

• 16 Pyramids Discovered in Ancient Cemetery
• Linking cultures: Sudan, Egypt and Nubia at the British Museum | British Museum blog