In the 1980s the threat of the construction of a dam at the Fourth Cataract, first planned 40 years earlier, was again mooted. This would inundate a massive area from the dam site at Hamdab as far upstream as Mograt Island, a total river distance of approximately 170km.

SARS has been one of the few archaeological missions to conduct work in this area.

The rock art was carved on granite boulders and outcrops and the hard nature of the stone makes the rendition of fine detail impossible. The preferred locations are close to main routes where the art was readily visible to the maximum number of people. Some drawings are isolated, others are closely grouped together, sometimes many covering the whole of the face of a suitable rock.

Camels are the most common subject of the rock artists, both with and without riders. Some may be of no great antiquity but they are not closely datable.

There are innumerable rapids in the river which makes travel by boat exciting and at some times dangerous.

The terrain is very rough and the location of archaeological sites is very time consuming.