The earliest material on the site relates to the Small Enclosure and dates from the Kushite Period. The two main buildings that of the Lion Temple and the Great Enclosure are dated to the reign of Arnekhamani (c.235-218 BC). The area seems to have been the centre for worship of Apedemak in Sudan and most of the remains are solely religious in nature. The great hafir was 200-250m square and contained 150,000 cubic metres of water for the pilgrims and gardens. The area is surrounded by 14 quarries used for constructing the buildings.