Abstract
The Wadi Awatib discharges near the 6th Cataract into the River Nile and drains a catchment of 2360 km2, an escarpment area. In this escarpment area, at the foot of the “Gebel Naga”, the Meroitic settlement Naga was located. The relief is characterized by the Cretaceous Nubian Sandstone Formation, forming plateau areas with slightly inclining foot zones and downslope steplike changes, adjusted onto the level of the Nile river. Faults around the neighboring escarpments indicate tectonic activity. Mass-movement desposits along the escarpment’s steep indicate mass movements as a controlling process for escarpment shaping. OSL dating of overlying eolian deposits give a minimum age for the mass movements of 36 ka. Rock fall deposits around the archaelogical findings indicate, that mass movements have to be expected also in the most recent past.Fluvial dynamics and eolian dynamics are the factors controlling present day shaping of the landscape in the Wadi Awatib and around the Naga excavation site, including the dissection of the footzone of the escarpment. Dunes occur predominantly as lee-dunes at the Gebel Naga. Sand-back fillings of the memorials at Naga excavation site attest strong eolian dynamics in most recent time.