Royal pyramids and tumuli of the Kushite kingdom at El-Kurru

Located between the 3rd and 4th cataracts of the Nile about 1 mile west of the river in what is now Northern state, Sudan, El-Kurru was the first of the three royal cemeteries used by the Kushite royals of Napata, also referred to as Egypt's 25th Dynasty. This archaeological site is home to several royal Nubian pyramids and was primarily used from about 860 BC until 650 BC. The first tomb with a name attached to it is that of King Piye, also known as King Piankhy, dating to about 750 BC, while the sixteen earlier tombs possibly belong to Piye's royal predecessors.

The last 25th dynasty king, Tantamani, was buried at El-Kurru around 650 BC. Subsequent Napatan rulers chose to be buried at the royal cemetery at Nuri instead, though in the mid-4th century, the 20th king, whose name is unknown, chose to have his tomb, as well as that of his queen, built at El-Kurru. The cemetery is divided into three parts by two wadis. The central section seems to be the oldest and contains several tumulus type tombs that predate the Kingdom of Napata.

Tumulus 1, the earliest tomb, dates to 860-840 BC, though some scholars believe it may date back to the Ramesside period of Egypt around 1070 BC. Tumulus 2 dates to 800-780 BC and contained a female skull. Tumulus 4 and 5 date to 860-840 BC. To the north, across the northern wadi, lies Tumulus 6, which dates to 840-820 BC. To the east of the tumuli is a row of at least eight pyramids, including those of Piye, Shabaka, and Tantamani. Tumulus 19, located to the east of the cluster of tumulus tombs, also dates to 840-820 BC.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons