Archaeologists Unearth Proof of Africa’s ‘King Arthur’: What We Know About Him
Archaeologists Unearth Proof of Africa’s ‘King Arthur’: What We Know About Him
A Polish archaeological team from the University of Warsaw has uncovered a royal decree bearing the name of King Qashqash—a ruler long considered legendary—in a centuries-old rubbish heap on the banks of the Nile in northern Sudan.
Previously, the king appeared only in Kitāb al-Ṭabaqāt, a Sudanese biographical work where he was mentioned indirectly, leaving scholars unable to confirm whether he was a historical figure or part of a semi-legendary lineage.
Who was King Qashqash?
🟠Likely ruled Dongola—once capital of one of Africa's earliest kingdoms—during the transition between the 16th and 17th centuries;
🟠May have been the father of King Hasan, another ruler from historical accounts;
🟠The earliest known post-medieval king of Dongola confirmed through documentary evidence.
“In the Sudanese and broader African context, the paucity of written sources renders historical reconstruction particularly challenging,” researchers conclude. “The king’s order we have discussed here represents a rare instance in which a figure previously confined to the domain of hagiographic literature and oral traditions can be situated within a verifiable historical framework supported by tangible archaeological evidence.”
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