The war in Sudan is pushing the ancient Meroe pyramid complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, into danger as fighting and insecurity have halted all conservation work, leaving the fragile structures exposed to harsh weather.
Archaeologist Mahmoud Suleiman warned: “The site could face disaster, and collapse is entirely possible.” He said the conflict, lasting over three years, has prevented experts from carrying out basic maintenance.
Located about 200km north of the capital Khartoum, Meroe is home to more than 200 sharply pointed pyramids, built between 800 BC and 350 AD as tombs for the kings of the Kingdom of Kush.
Guards say wind-blown sand and encroaching vegetation are accelerating the decay. Guard Mustafa Ahmed said: “Sand has piled thick on the pyramids and even inside the temples, and grass is growing wild. The pyramids have seriously deteriorated, and stones are beginning to fall off.”
Antiquities inspector Mohamed Mubarak said salt released from accumulated sand is attacking the “fragile” stone blocks, eroding ancient inscriptions.
Suleiman said climate change, the dispersal of Sudan's archaeological workforce, and the suspension of foreign missions have all contributed to the site's “significant degradation.”
UNESCO has warned that more than 100 cultural sites have been damaged and at least 22 museums looted or destroyed since the war began in April 2023.
