A civil war caused the destruction of Old Dongola in 1365. The Makurian kings fled to Lower Nubia in the north, where they would maintain themselves for approximately 150 years. Old Dongola, abandoned by Makuria, came under the control of the Arabic Banu Ja'd tribe[18] and eventually a new political entity, the so-called "Kingdom of Dongola Town",[12] which was incorporated into the Funj sultanate during the early-16th century.[19] The building is recorded to have served as a residence for Mecca pilgrims.[15] However, during the 17th–19th centuries the ground floor was probably inaccessible.