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Ancient Fortress City Unearthed in Egypt

Rossella Lorenzi, Discovery News

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Ancient Arrowheads | Discovery News Video

The recent excavation work has added plenty of material for further research.

The Egyptian mission unearthed a huge number of pottery vessels, as well as local and imported pottery lids. The group also uncovered a white plate inscribed with Demotic text, some red and black decorated amphora, a group of stones used for grinding seeds, an amulet and parts of alabaster kohl pots. These finds reflect the large-scale trade activity among ancient Egypt, the near East and Greece.

Moreover, many bronze arrowheads emerged from the desert sand, reinforcing the idea that the site help a military purpose.

Maksoud's team also discovered a group of drainage networks for rain water, made of pottery tunnels that ended with a group of pottery vessels buried vertically in the sand to a depth of about three meters (10 feet).

Most significantly, the team found a large mud-brick temple, consisting of three halls. A group of storage magazines was built at the eastern and western sides of the temple. A small mud-brick palace made up of eight rooms was also discovered at the northeast side of the temple.

According to Spencer, the discovery of the temple opens the door for a new interpretation of the site.

"The existence of a temple within a large enclosure suggests that this was in part an Egyptian temple-town. Located as it was on the eastern frontier of Egypt, it also had a strategic role guarding the Pelusiac branch of the Nile and must have possessed an appropriate garrison," Spencer said.

Excavation work at the site will continue in 2010.

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