Sudan National Museum Access Project Update

Since launching in January, ASOR’s Sudan National Museum Access Project has made steady progress in strengthening site security and restoring key infrastructure at the Sudan National Museum in Khartoum. This work is being carried out in close collaboration with Sudan’s antiquities department, the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums. The project has grown out of an existing partnership with longtime ASOR member Geoff Emberling, who co-directs an archaeological project at Jebel Barkal in northern Sudan.

Over the last three months, the work has focused on two main priorities. The first, and most urgent, has been repairing a damaged enclosure wall at the southeastern corner of the site. The 50-meter breach in the wall made the property vulnerable, giving direct access to damaged storerooms and other sensitive parts of the museum.

At the time of writing, repairs to the enclosure wall are nearing completion, with approximately 90% of the work now finished. Final touches, including the removal of construction debris, are expected to be completed by the end of March. This will help restore both the security and the appearance of the site. At the same time, the project team has made significant progress by carefully inspecting and clearing the museum’s sewage drainage system. By removing blockages, they have successfully restored the proper function of the drainage system. This essential step stabilizes the museum’s infrastructure for the longer term.

Over the next three months, the project will turn to its remaining priorities: restoring the museum’s water and electrical systems, both being essential to returning the site to full operation. Planning for this phase is already underway, allowing work to begin without delay. If progress continues on schedule, we are hopeful that the project will be completed by mid-summer. Making that goal will mark a crucial milestone in the museum’s recovery.