This undated photo obtained from the French Section of the Antiquities Directorate of Sudan (SFDAS) shows three ancient ram statues discovered recently in Sudan’s El-Hassa region, 180kms north of Khartoum. SFDAS chief Vincent Rondot said on Tuesday the statues could help decipher the oldest script in sub-Saharan Africa. Key to the discovery is a royal inscription that bears the name of little-known king Amanakhareqerem, said Rondot. “Merotic language is one of the last antique writings that still awaits its understanding... and it is the most ancient (sub-Saharan) African language written in script.” Experts can pronounce the text and can read names, but cannot understand the words. Merotic is a branch of the same linguistic tree as languages spoken in contemporary Sudan and Eritrea, the archaeologist said. “It is absolutely essential to understand it... We only need to read the last words remaining on the inscription,” said Rondot. “And it is very useful to be able to do so on that kind of inscription. This year we found one with the complete inscription around. For the first time, we have a complete text.” —AFP