Ain Farah

Ain Farah lies among the dry hills of northern Darfur, where a spring supplied water to a settlement of stone and brick. Ruined walls and buildings surround the central spring at the site, recalling a centre of power in a landscape crossed by long-distance caravan routes. Tradition associates it with Shau Dorshid, a ruler of the Tunjur, whose dynasty preceded the Fur sultans of Darfur.

The remains include traces of buildings identified with both Islamic and Christian traditions. Their interpretation has long been debated, but together they show the range of influences that reached this northern Darfur centre. The spring and the surrounding high ground made it a naturally defensible place in a dry region where permanent water was precious.