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An Egyptian mission has discovered a military fort at Tell el-Abqain (Beheira Governorate), in the north-west Delta. The fort was a key military outpost on the western military road, an area prone to attack by Libyan tribes, and later the ‘Sea Peoples’.
The fort consisted of a series of mud-brick structures, including barracks for soldiers and storage rooms for weapons, food, and provisions. Inside the food stores, the team found large granaries, pottery storage vessels with the remains of fish and animal bones, and cylindrical pottery ovens. A cow burial was discovered nearby.
The soldiers also left behind many personal items, including weapons, hunting tools, jewellery, kohl applicators, protective amulets, and one bronze sword bearing the cartouche of Ramesses II, which may have been presented by the king to a high-ranking officer. A limestone block bearing the titles of the king was discovered, too, together with a second block naming an official called Bay.
Text: Sarah Griffiths / All images: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, unless otherwise stated
