New Kingdom Fortress Discovered in Sinai
Fortress sheds light on ancient Egypt’s eastern border
Egyptian fortress wall in the Sinai near Gaza. Courtesy Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
The Way of Horus was a critical trade route connecting ancient Egypt to the greater Near Eastern world. It was so important, in fact, that during the New Kingdom period (c. 1570–1069 BCE), the route was heavily guarded by a series of Egyptian fortresses. Excavating at the site of Tell el-Kharouba near the modern border with Gaza, archaeologists from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities have uncovered one of the largest such fortresses ever discovered.
Defending the Way of Horus
The Way of Horus—the Sinai portion of the famous Via Maris—played a critical role in Egyptian trade throughout history. As one of the few routes across the Sinai Peninsula, this road, which ran along the Mediterranean coast, would have also been vital in connecting the Egyptian empire to its Levantine territories during the Late Bronze Age (c. 1550–1200 BCE). Given the road’s importance, the Way of Horus was heavily defended during the New Kingdom period and served to strengthen Egypt’s eastern border.
Excavations at Tell el-Kharouba revealed part of one such fortress. Among the discoveries was the fortress’s southern wall, which measures nearly 350 feet long and 8 feet thick. Along the wall, archaeologists identified 11 defensive towers, although more are expected to be uncovered. The excavators also uncovered portions of the fortress’s northern and western walls. In total, the fortress was likely around 86,000 square feet and would have housed a large number of soldiers. One of the site’s more interesting features is a 250-foot-long winding wall that surrounded a residential area.
Jar handle stamped with the name of Pharaoh Thutmose I. Courtesy Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Other discoveries included numerous pottery vessels and sherds, volcanic stones from the Aegean islands, a large bread oven, and preserved fragments of ancient dough. One pottery handle from the site was even stamped with the name of Pharaoh Thutmose I (r. 1506–1493 BCE). Preliminary studies of the fortress show that it underwent several stages of restoration and modification over its period of occupation. In previous excavation seasons, a much smaller fortress had been found around half a mile to the southwest, and it is hoped that future excavations will reveal a military port that connected to the Tell el-Kharouba fortress.
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