In a breakthrough for Sudanese archaeology, a joint German-Sudanese team has used non-invasive molecular-resonance scanning to detect hidden royal inscriptions at the Great Enclosure of Musawwarat es-Sufra. The technology, which maps density variations at the sub-millimeter level, revealed several layers of Meroitic script that had been plastered over or eroded from the exterior of the sandstone temple walls.
The inscriptions appear to document the lineage and military achievements of a previously unknown Kushite queen from the 1st century BCE. This technological innovation allows researchers to read texts without damaging the fragile sandstone structures, which are highly susceptible to environmental degradation. The project, funded by the Heritage Innovation Fund, marks a new era in the digital preservation of African monumental history.