In the lead up to the second anniversary of the war against Sudan’s government on April 15, Sudan’s National Corporation of Antiquities and Museums (NCAM) asked the International Society for Nubian Studies (ISNS) to form a task force known as the Sudan Cultural Emergency Recovery Fund.
The task force has been created in response to the devastating looting of the Sudan National Museum and other museums in Khartoum and follows initial support that has been provided by the French Archaeological Unit for Sudanese Antiquities (SFDAS), the British Museum, and the National Museum in Prague. The task force will work with NCAM to develop plans to rehabilitate the Sudan National Museum and other affected museums in the hopes of reopening them after the end of the war. It will also support other cultural heritage recovery efforts in Sudan.
Leading this critical initiative will be archaeologist and cultural heritage expert Dr. Geoff Emberling of the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology at the University of Michigan. The task force also includes Dr. Ekhlass Abdellatif and Ikhlas Elyas from NCAM, Dr. Maria Carmela Gatto of the Polish National Academy of Sciences, and Professor Angelika Lohwasser of the University of Münster. The Kelsey Museum’s Suzanne Davis and Chris Motz will also provide consulting support for conservation and digital data.
Dr. Emberling, director of the Jebel Barkal Archaeological Project (a project currently funded by U-M alumnus Steve Klinsky), is a seasoned researcher with decades of experience working in Sudan and the Nile Valley. He brings unparalleled expertise and commitment to cultural preservation in conflict zones. The Sudan Cultural Emergency Recovery Fund will coordinate international support, mobilize fundraising, and provide strategic assistance to help safeguard Sudan’s invaluable cultural heritage during this time of crisis.
“Sudan’s archaeological legacy is important not only for the region but for the world,” said Dr. Emberling. “In the face of the looting and damage to the Sudan National Museum, we are committed to standing with our Sudanese colleagues to recover, protect, and rebuild.”
The task force aims to unite institutions, scholars, and donors around the urgent need to respond to this cultural emergency, ensuring that recovery efforts are Sudan-led, transparent, and sustainable.
For inquiries or to contribute to the Sudan Cultural Emergency Recovery Fund, please contact Dr. Emberling at: geoffe@umich.edu.
