# University of Warsaw Archaeologists Uncover Floor and Stairs of Great Church in Old Dongola

- Published: 2026-11-06 16:22 UTC
- Section: Science › Research
- Tags: Old Dongola church, University of Warsaw archaeology, Makuria kingdom, Sudan archaeological excavations, medieval architecture
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-44f3e4befa46600730770d9a_university_of_warsaw/

**Excavations at the medieval site in Sudan revealed an 11-meter stairwell, apse buttresses, and adjacent church ruins.**

![University of Warsaw Archaeologists Uncover Floor and Stairs of Great Church in Old Dongola](https://sgzwpqqelzmajkcubgkl.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/rt-media/2026/11/2638f526f227f23b.webp)
*futurezone.de*

Archaeologists from the University of Warsaw have excavated the original floor level and a monumental stairwell of the Great Church of Jesus in Old Dongola, Sudan, as reported by futurezone.de citing Kopalnia Wiedzy. The remains of the building were discovered five years ago, but key structural elements were reached only during the recent field phase [1].

During the excavation of the stairwell leading deep into the structure, the field team exposed preserved walls reaching up to 11 meters in height [1]. The researchers also cleared several buttresses reinforcing the apse and identified the architectural remains of another smaller church established inside an adjacent building [1].

## Structural Dimensions and Architecture

Current field estimates indicate that the main church building measured approximately 47 meters in width and 57 meters in length [1]. The original height is estimated at up to 21 meters, though researchers noted that final dimensions remain subject to verification because only a fraction of the complex has been excavated [1].

Old Dongola served as the capital of the Christian kingdom of Makuria from the 6th century until the 14th century [1]. The kingdom maintained diplomatic and cultural connections with the Mediterranean and the Eastern Roman Empire, and researchers note the complex may have influenced regional monumental architecture in a manner comparable to Hagia Sophia in Constantinople [1].

## Sources

1. [futurezone.de](https://www.futurezone.de/science/article762445/archaeologen-untersuchen-gewaltige-kirche-dabei-stossen-sie-auf-eine-ueberraschung.html)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-44f3e4befa46600730770d9a_university_of_warsaw/