The discovery was made on the Sinai Peninsula, in a corridor leading directly to the territory now considered Palestine
This week, a team of archaeologists coordinated by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities discovered a thousand-year-old wall on the Sinai Peninsula that was erected during the New Kingdom, more than 3,000 years ago. The construction was classified as a ‘showcase of military ingenuity’ by the architects and served as a defence on the north-eastern border.
The wonders of the ancient world never cease to amaze today’s society. Thanks to the various projects being carried out around the world, it is possible to recover elements that have remained buried for centuries and belonged to influential civilisations, such as the Egyptian one. In this vein, officials from the African country pointed out that the wall defended what was known as the Route of Horus, which connected the Nile Valley with the Syrian-Palestinian strip.
In a statement issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the importance of the wall was highlighted, demonstrating how the pharaohs developed a comprehensive protection system to safeguard the nation’s borders. ‘The fortress not only offers a glimpse into Egypt’s military strategy, but also tells the stories of the soldiers, craftsmen and architects who lived and worked there,’ said Minister Sherif Fathy.
The expedition involved arduous teamwork, which has so far managed to unearth 105 metres long by 2.5 metres wide. The wall included a fortified gate and 11 defensive towers. In addition to the significant section, experts marked out and unearthed part of the western and north-western walls. According to reports, all this work was hidden under the sand. It is believed that it was built during the New Kingdom period, between 1550 and 1069 BC.
‘One of the most unique discoveries is a 75-metre-long zigzag wall located on the western flank of the citadel,’ said Mohamed Abdel Badi, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector.
This artificial barrier shows how citizens lived in the small fortifications deployed at the borders of the empire to prevent the enemy from expanding. Inside these walls, archaeologists recovered pottery and foundation deposits in some of the towers. The objects vary and have a direct link to everyday life, such as a jug from the 18th dynasty of Thutmose I from the first half of the period between 1550 and 1295 BC.
Among the notable and striking elements used by the Egyptians for construction were volcanic rocks that would have been extracted from the Greek islands and transported across the Mediterranean to this point. They also found a large bread oven with remains of hardened dough. This simple detail showed that the military fortress was self-sufficient.
In the first stage of the expedition, archaeologists plan to clear the area of accumulated sand and earth. In the second phase, the team will attempt to trace the quay where the military port operated, supplying materials and food to this area far from the nerve centre of the New Kingdom.
‘Future excavations will make this site one of the most important archaeological landmarks on Egypt’s eastern border, a lasting testament to the brilliance, resilience and strategic vision of the ancient Egyptians,’ said Fathy.
