المستخلص: |
Ever- since its widespread use as an archaeological method, ethnoarchaeology proved to be an effective tool for solving a number of archaeological problems. In a cemetery dated to the Post- Meroitic era in the 4th cataract region, excavated by the second author, a global jar with a narrow neck with seeds of Colocynth (a bitter cucumber) was recovered in one of the tombs. Other than being an offering for the deceased, the function of the jar or that of the seeds remains a question. An ethnoarchaeological investigation shows that identical jars, in shape and form, are still being used for melting seeds of Colocynth to turn them into Tar: a thick dark oily liquid used by today nomads as a preventative and curing treatment for a wide range of decease. This paper documents the procedure of making Tar and list its usages. \
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