Tracing Embodied Differences in Life and Death: Migration and Inequality in the Kerma Kingdom hinterlands, at Abu Fatima, Sudan

Migration and the treatment of migrants are issues that continue to be relevant, both in the past and today. In this thesis I examine the treatment of migrants in the hinterlands of the Kerma Kingdom (ca. 2500-1500 BCE) through an interdisciplinary case study of the Abu Fatima cemetery in Sudan. Previously published strontium isotope analysis has identified the presence of migrants at Abu Fatima (Schrader et al., 2019). While comparing locals and nonlocals on the basis of this strontium research, I combine funerary, bioarchaeological, and isotopic data to assess the intersection between migration and burial customs, health, labor, and diet, thereby reconstructing the experiences of migrants in a Bronze Age Nubian context. The results indicate that non-local individuals were not socially excluded. Firstly, funerary research indicates that migrant burial were executed in local Kerma-style burial customs and occasionally received considerable material investment, including animal hides...Show moreMigration and the treatment of migrants are issues that continue to be relevant, both in the past and today. In this thesis I examine the treatment of migrants in the hinterlands of the Kerma Kingdom (ca. 2500-1500 BCE) through an interdisciplinary case study of the Abu Fatima cemetery in Sudan. Previously published strontium isotope analysis has identified the presence of migrants at Abu Fatima (Schrader et al., 2019). While comparing locals and nonlocals on the basis of this strontium research, I combine funerary, bioarchaeological, and isotopic data to assess the intersection between migration and burial customs, health, labor, and diet, thereby reconstructing the experiences of migrants in a Bronze Age Nubian context. The results indicate that non-local individuals were not socially excluded. Firstly, funerary research indicates that migrant burial were executed in local Kerma-style burial customs and occasionally received considerable material investment, including animal hides and ostrich feather fans. Such actions signify not only participation in cultural practices, but also social recognition and care. Secondly, bioarchaeological analyses reveal no substantial disparities between locals and non-locals when studying indicators of health, activity, or trauma. Patterns of healed fractures and the presence of individuals with disabilities who have survived long periods suggest a system of ongoing social support and care within the community, irrespective of geographic origin. Lastly, isotopic analysis of carbon and nitrogen indicates dietary homogeneity within the population, implying that both locals and non-locals had comparable access to food resources and engaged in similar subsistence practices. These findings contradict narratives of migration characterized by structural inequality, exploitation, or exclusion. The findings indicate complex and negotiated forms of integration where migrants can actively engage in local social, economic, and cultural spheres. The results of this thesis are significant as they contest the prevailing narrative that associates ancient migration with unavoidable marginalization and inequality. The case of Abu Fatima showcases the variability of human reactions to mobility, demonstrating that integration and care can coexist with diversity. This study illustrates the interpretive potential of integrating bioarchaeological science with social theory by contextualizing the results within a framework of lived experience and embodiment. Through osteobiographical case studies and population level analysis, migration is reframed as a dynamic social process that can be materialized in bodies and burials. This thesis emphasizes the importance of analyzing migration as both a biological and social phenomenon integrated into daily practices, health, and cultural expression. The individuals buried at Abu Fatima show that mobility in the Bronze Age extended beyond major urban centers, influencing the lives of those in peri-urban and rural areas. This research emphasizes individual experiences, thereby enhancing broader discussions on migration, inequality, and lived experiences, and providing a more nuanced comprehension of integration and social dynamics within the Kerma Kingdom.Show less

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Tracing Embodied Differences in Life and Death: Migration and Inequality in the Kerma Kingdom hinterlands, at Abu Fatima, Sudan