Entry of Mining Machinery into Sai Island Raises Fears of Nubian Antiquities Plunder

moatinoon
The Regional Network for Cultural Rights - Sudan has expressed its deep concerns that Sudan might lose one of its richest archaeological areas due to the vandalism targeting significant historical sites on "Sai Island." The network urged experts, archaeologists, and defending organizations, both regionally and internationally, to condemn this serious humanitarian crime and work towards preventing its recurrence.

According to the networks sources in a statement today, mining machinery has entered Sai Island in the Northern State, which is considered an ancient Nubian archaeological site. This happened under the watch and knowledge of the authorities, exploiting the state of war in Sudan and the absence of a central authority managing the countrys affairs.

The statement mentioned that opportunists and conscienceless individuals are racing to exploit the critical conditions to steal one of the oldest archaeological sites in the world under the pretext of gold exploration, according to reliable news sources and videos circulating on social media.

Sai Islands archaeological site is located approximately 720 kilometers north of the capital, Khartoum. Previous mining and excavation activities, described as "random" and "organized," have caused extensive damage to artifacts dating back to the ancient Stone Age, including human bones and valuable pottery pieces scattered across the island, which covers an area of about 60 square kilometers.

Previous reports revealed significant smuggling and looting operations targeting numerous archaeological artifacts, ritual tools, jewelry, and other valuable relics dating back to the oldest human lineages in the world, as confirmed by Italian geneticist Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza in his book "The Great Human Diaspora: History of Diversity and Evolution".