Egypt continues to uncover the treasures of its fascinating past with a new extraordinary archaeological discovery at the Tell El-Abqaeen site in Beheira Governorate. A team led by Ahmed Saeed El-Kharadly, from the Supreme Council of Antiquities, has unearthed a set of mud-brick architectural units dating back to the New Kingdom.
These units, which served as military barracks, weapons stores and food stores, reveal valuable information about the daily life and organization of the Egyptian army at the time. The excavations also uncovered numerous artifacts and personal effects belonging to the soldiers who occupied the site.
Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, stressed the importance of this discovery for understanding the military history of ancient Egypt. The Abqaeen Fortress, which served as a garrison point along the Western Military Road, played a crucial role in protecting Egypt’s northwestern borders from Libyan tribes and the Sea Peoples.
The architectural elements discovered have a regular layout and are divided into two symmetrical groups connected by a small passage, demonstrating the ingenuity of ancient Egyptian engineers and their ability to take advantage of environmental elements to meet various needs.
Ayman Ashmawy, head of the Egyptian Antiquities sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that preliminary studies of the discovered artifacts confirm that some units were used as warehouses to supply soldiers with food and provisions. Silos containing remains of large pottery jars for storing fish and animal bones were found, as well as cylindrical pottery ovens that were used for cooking food.
Among the most remarkable finds are a bronze sword decorated with the cartouches of King Ramesses II and various artefacts illustrating the daily life of the inhabitants of the fortress, their religious and military beliefs, as well as tools used in times of war and hunting.
The site has also yielded symbolic treasures, such as the burial of a cow, a symbol of strength, abundance and prosperity, and hieratic inscriptions of King Ramesses II and an officer named “Bay”. Scarabs and amulets made of faience and carnelian have been discovered, testifying to the cultural and spiritual wealth of the period.
In summary, this recent archaeological discovery at Tell El-Abqaeen offers a valuable insight into the military organisation and daily life of the New Kingdom in Egypt, enriching our understanding of this pivotal period in the history of this fascinating civilisation.