Eastern Deffufa

Sudan

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This site is thought to have been a royal cemetery. Around the kings' tombs archaeologists have discovered some 30,000 other graves, many of whose inhabitants appear to have been ritually sacrificed to accompany the king to the underworld. Encircling the human graves, archaeologists have also unearthed around 5000 cattle skulls, which indicates just how important cattle was to the people who once lived here. This site is about 3km west of the town centre.

There's usually no ghaffir (guard) on duty, so entrance is free.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Kerma Museum

    Kerma Museum

    1.47 MILES

    Next to Kerma's western deffufa is this well organised museum that contains interesting relics from the site, including seven imposing granite statues and…

  • Western Deffufa

    Western Deffufa

    1.5 MILES

    A 15-minute walk away from town, this massive mudbrick temple stood about 19m high and stretched 50m long. Nobody is really certain what it was used for…

  • Tombos

    Tombos

    7.76 MILES

    The main reason to stop in Tombos, about 5km north of Kerma, is to visit its archaeological site. It consists of a recumbent granite statue of a Black…

  • Dukki Gel

    Dukki Gel

    1.31 MILES

    This little-understood site contains the remains of a huge temple with 2m-thick walls. The site is closed to the public most of the time but between…

View more attractions

Nearby Sudan attractions

1. Dukki Gel

1.31 MILES

This little-understood site contains the remains of a huge temple with 2m-thick walls. The site is closed to the public most of the time but between…

2. Kerma Museum

1.47 MILES

Next to Kerma's western deffufa is this well organised museum that contains interesting relics from the site, including seven imposing granite statues and…

3. Western Deffufa

1.5 MILES

A 15-minute walk away from town, this massive mudbrick temple stood about 19m high and stretched 50m long. Nobody is really certain what it was used for…

4. Tombos

7.76 MILES

The main reason to stop in Tombos, about 5km north of Kerma, is to visit its archaeological site. It consists of a recumbent granite statue of a Black…