A walkway leading to an ancient Egyptian fortress has been discovered in Sinai.
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A team of Egyptian archaeologists has discovered an ancient tree-lined road leading to a fortress in the Sinai Desert, revealing details about the architecture and defenses of the fortress during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. The discovery was made at Tell Abu Saifi, a strategic area near the ancient border town of Tharu, used as an eastern defense point in ancient Egypt.
During the excavations, more than 500 clay planting circles were identified on both sides of a limestone-paved road, stretching over 100 meters long and 11 meters wide. These circles would have housed trees that adorned the entrance to the fortress during the Ptolemaic period (304–30 BC). The road was subsequently rebuilt in the Roman period, maintaining its function as the main access route.
In addition, a moat more than two meters deep was discovered surrounding the fortress in Ptolemaic times, used as a defense against potential invaders. This defensive system reflects the strategic importance of the Sinai as ancient Egypt's first line of defense against external threats, Live Science reports.
The excavations also revealed remains of Roman barracks, providing insight into the daily lives of the cavalrymen stationed there during the reigns of the emperors Diocletian and Maximian . Four industrial kilns used to produce quicklime were found, indicating that the site became a production center during the late Roman period.
Four industrial kilns used to produce quicklime were found
Archaeologists identified the corners of an even older fortress beneath the known structures, suggesting that the site was occupied and rebuilt several times over the centuries. Several overlapping rectangular buildings were also discovered, which would have served as long-term residential spaces during the Ptolemaic era.
This discovery at Tell Abu Saifi offers a clearer insight into ancient Egyptian defensive strategies and highlights the importance of Sinai as a key location in the country's military and architectural history. The combination of defensive and landscape elements, such as the tree-lined road, reflects the complexity and sophistication of Egyptian constructions in this desert region.
A team of Egyptian archaeologists has discovered an ancient tree-lined road leading to a fortress in the Sinai Desert, revealing details about the architecture and defenses of the fortress during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. The discovery was made at Tell Abu Saifi, a strategic area near the ancient border town of Tharu, used as an eastern defense point in ancient Egypt.
El Confidencial
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