Spatial and temporal distribution of domestic and civil architecture in Christian Nubia

grantor: University of TorontoThe aim of this thesis was to document the development of the Christian Nubian house and its variations in form between different geographic and political regions, within the kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria and Alwa. Chronologies describing the evolution of Nubian church architecture have been produced, but no such detailed work exists concerning domestic or civil architecture. To further this end, a gazetteer was compiled of all known archaeological sites in Nubia containing Christian period domestic architecture. It follows the five chapters of discussion. Chapters 1 to 3 trace the house plan from simple, one and two-room dwellings in the transitional X-Group - Early Christian period, through to the complicated multi-chamber, fortified buildings that are produced at the end of the Terminal Christian phase. Possible origins and some reasons for the modification of their design are suggested. It is proposed that the early two-room houses form the basic construction module used in later domestic structures. Walled settlements, enclosures, palaces, public buildings are also discussed. Chapter 4 addresses the assumptions and problems associated with the identification of Nubian monasteries and endeavours to identify the characteristic features associated with them. It is suggested that some Nubian monasteries may have been laura rather than coenobia. Evidence for the tentative identification of some sites as monasteries is examined. The final chapter explores the environmental, socio-political and cultural factors that affected house construction and design. An attempt is made to explain room usage via artefact distribution and ethnographic analogies. A model for land use in Lower and Upper Nubia is also proposed.Ph.D