Amid escalating military conflict in Khartoum and other parts of Sudan, the UK Foreign Office advised against all travel to the country. "Due to armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping," Americans are similarly warned not to travel to Sudan, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of State reported by Express.co.uk.
Despite these warnings, Sudan guards one of Africa's greatest archaeological secrets: a millennial legacy of pyramids that surpasses even that of Egypt.
While Egypt is synonymous with pyramids, the highest number is actually found in Sudan, which boasts between 220 and 255 pyramids compared to Egypt's disputed total of around 118.
The vast majority of these pyramids are located in the region of Nubia, an area that extends from Aswan in Egypt to Khartoum in present-day Sudan. According to OK Diario, the pyramids were constructed by the ancient Kingdom of Kush, one of Africa's earliest civilizations that flourished between the 8th century BCE and the 4th century CE.
The Kushites emerged as a dominant force in the region in the 8th century BCE. During Egypt's 25th Dynasty, known as the "dynasty of the black pharaohs," the Kingdom of Kush dominated Egypt, with Kushite kings ruling from their capital at Napata. Piye, a Kushite king, led the invasion of Egypt and was the first to be commemorated with a pyramid in El-Kurru, marking the beginning of a tradition in Sudan where over 41 kings and nobles chose to be buried in pyramids, according to La República.
The pyramids of Meroë in Sudan are among the best pyramid sites of ancient Nubia. From the 3rd century BCE, the Kushites in Meroë built more than 200 pyramids as tombs for kings and queens, according to Tabnak.
TheAccording to La República, these Nubian pyramids are characterized by their steep angles and narrower bases compared to Egyptian pyramids. They are tall and thin, with an inclination of approximately 70 degrees, whereas Egyptian pyramids have angles of 40 to 50 degrees.
Despite their historical importance, the pyramids of Sudan remain largely unknown and neglected. "The gradual destruction of these archaeological sites has worsened with the ongoing civil wars in Sudan since the 1950s, which have severely hindered conservation efforts and the development of tourism," reported El Confidencial. Factors such as looting, climate change, and lack of resources for preservation have further endangered these ancient monuments.
In 2011, UNESCO declared the Nubia region in Sudan, including the sites of Meroë, as a World Heritage Site. International organizations have worked to protect these valuable sites, but the situation remains challenging, according to OK Diario.
Travel to Sudan is currently fraught with difficulties. Khartoum International Airport is closed, and the only functional civilian airport operating international flights is Port Sudan Airport, according to Express.co.uk. Visitors are urged to "use their own judgment" to get to a departure point "if and when you judge it is safe to do so."
While Sudan's pyramids remain in the shadows, Egypt's pyramids receive millions of visitors each year and are recognized as wonders of the world. "Egypt is still known for the Great Pyramid of Giza, considered the most important in the world," reported The Travel.
The pyramidal heritage of Sudan, although less explored, offers a history that deserves to be known. These constructions are vestiges of the ancient civilization of the Kingdom of Kush, reflecting the culture and beliefs of a civilization that thrived in the Nile Valley, as noted by La República.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq