Grains, Plant Resources, and Agricultural Innovations in Northern Sudan: Ethnobotanical Perspectives on Post-Medieval Plant Knowledge and Agricultural Transformations

Objective

GRAINS – Grains, Plant Resources, and Agricultural Innovations in Northern Sudan: Ethnobotanical Perspectives on Post-Medieval Plant Knowledge and Agricultural Transformations examines how communities in Northern Sudan adapted plant use and agricultural practices during major social, political, religious, and environmental transitions. Grounded in original research questions about foodways and agricultural production, the project uses Old Dongola (OD) - the former capital of Christian Makuria and later a key Islamic urban center under the Funj Sultanate - as a core case study to develop a broader analytical framework for Nubian archaeobotany. It draws on over 120 archaeobotanical samples from OD and integrates comparative collections from nine regional sites held at UCL and the British Museum. Combining archaeobotanical analysis, archival research, and ethnographic interviews, the project reconstructs shifts in crop selection, the use of food and medicinal plants, and resilience strategies within African and Islamic trade networks. It provides the first systematic study of post-medieval plant use in Nubia. A key innovation lies in the creation of a bilingual Digital Seed Atlas (DSA) for Sudan and northeastern Africa. Hosted at UCL, the fellowship will provide advanced training in archaeobotany, digital imaging, and open science, supported by collaboration with the British Museum and Kew Gardens. GRAINS will contribute to academic knowledge, support the preservation of cultural heritage, and lay the foundation for future archaeobotany training programs in Sudan, offering long-term benefits to post-conflict academic recovery and sustainable heritage practices.