A lone guard continues to watch over the 2,400-year-old burial site of Bajrawiya on Sudan's Island of Meroe, despite the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, according to a report by France 24.
The site contains 140 pyramids built during the Meroitic period of the Kingdom of Kush. Many of these structures have suffered significant damage over the centuries, ranging from decapitation to total collapse.
Historical records show that some pyramids were destroyed in the 1800s by European treasure hunters using dynamite. More recent damage has been caused by two centuries of exposure to rain and sand.
A legacy under threat
The current guard, who is the descendant of a long line of groundskeepers, remains at his post even as the war enters its third year. He expressed a deep commitment to the site's preservation.
"I hope to remain near these pyramids and never leave them," the guard said, according to France 24.
The site's survival remains uncertain as the civil war continues to destabilize the region.
