A recent study published in Antiquity has unveiled a rare and significant discovery from the Ghazali Monastery Cemetery in Sudan: a tattoo bearing Christian symbols on the right foot of a semi-mummified medieval Nubian individual.

Tattooed right foot of Ghz-1–002. A) original; B) DStretch enhanced; C) pigmented pixels enhanced; D) pigmented pixels isolated. Full-spectrum pH๏τographs: E) original; F) DStretch enhanced; G) pigmented pixels enhanced; H) pigmented pixels isolated. Credit: K.A. Guilbault in Guilbault et al., Antiquity (2024)

Researchers analyzing the remains of a man buried at the Ghazali Monastery Cemetery have identified a tattoo on his right foot, marking only the second recorded instance of tattooing from this time and place.

The team, led by Ph.D. candidate Kari A. Guilbault and including Dr. Robert J. Stark and Dr. Artur Obłuski, studied the remains of the individual, designated Ghz-1-002, who was interred in Cemetery 1. This area was reserved for ad sanctos burials—interments near sites of religious significance. Radiocarbon dating suggests the man lived between CE 667 and 774 and was likely aged 35–50 at the time of death. His body was partially mummified due to the arid climate of the Bayuda Desert.

Using advanced imaging techniques, including full-spectrum light pH๏τography and DStretch technology, the researchers revealed the tattoo, which measures approximately 16 x 26 mm. It features a Christogram—a combination of the Greek letters chi (X) and rho (P)—accompanied by alpha (A) and omega (Ω or ω). These symbols, deeply rooted in Christian theology, symbolize Christ as the beginning and the end.

Burial of individual Ghz-1-002: A) burial dimensions; B) box-grave superstructure; C) the burial in situ (figure by J. Ciesielska). Credit: Guilbault et al., Antiquity (2024)

“The tattoo symbols have long been representative of the Christian faith. The Christogram, introduced by Roman Emperor Constantine, became a significant symbol in Christian tradition. The alpha and omega emphasize Christ’s encompᴀssing role, while representations of feet in the Nile Valley often denoted pilgrimage to sacred sites,” stated Guilbault.

The tattoo’s design and placement on the foot suggest it was a private marker of devotion, intended primarily for the bearer’s view. Its location may also allude to the act of pilgrimage, a significant aspect of medieval Christian practice.

Related: Medieval Christogram tattoo found in Nubian burial

Tattooing has a deep history in the Nile Valley, dating back to at least 3100 BCE. Most earlier tattoos were found on female bodies and featured geometric designs or botanical motifs. The Ghazali tattoo, however, reflects a stylistic and thematic departure, emphasizing religious symbolism. A similar example, a monogram of Archangel Michael, was previously identified on the thigh of a woman buried in Sudanese Nubia during the medieval period.

The Ghazali Monastery, active from approximately CE 680 to 1275, played a central role in the region. It included a walled monastery with communal living quarters and was surrounded by cemeteries serving different purposes. Cemetery 1, where Ghz-1-002 was interred, was positioned near the monastery, suggesting a deliberate choice linked to religious piety.

While no direct evidence links Ghazali to pilgrimage, the tattoo’s placement and its bearer’s burial in a site of religious importance suggest a deep connection to spiritual practices. The findings, published in Antiquity, shed light on the intersection of faith and personal expression in the region.

More information: Guilbault, K. A., Stark, R. J., & Obłuski, A. (2024). Faith embodied: a tattooed individual from medieval Ghazali. Antiquity, 1–8. doi:10.15184/aqy.2024.193