Emery had notably discovered the Buhen Horse in the same area in 1959, the earliest example of a horse to be discovered at an Ancient Egyptian site. As a result of their excavations in Sudan, Emery and O'Connor published works on an Old Kingdom era town and Middle Kingdom era fortress at Buhen. While working in Sudan O'Connor developed his academic focus on the differences and interactions between Ancient Near Eastern civilizations.
Emery's discovery of the Buhen Horse in 1959, the earliest known horse discovered at an Ancient Egyptian site, led to further excavations in Sudan by Emery and O'Connor.  O'Connor's work on the differences and interactions between ancient civilizations in the Near East emerged from his time in Sudan.