Ancient Port for Shipping Stones through Nile Discovered

By: Ali Abu-Dashish, Ahmed Yasser

CAIRO, Mar. 27. (SEE)- An Archaeological Mission at Jabal El-Silsilah in Aswan succeeded in uncovering the main port which was used to transport stones through the Nile to build temples.

Dr. Mustafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that this port is located on the eastern bank of River Nile about 100 m away from the large quarry in the region number 34 about 200 m.

He confirmed that the port was full of Nile silt and weeds.

The mission removed it and cleaned the region full of many signs, inscriptions and places of linking boats in preparation for loading stones on it.

On the other hand, Abd El Moneim Said, director general of Aswan and Nubia antiques, reported that the area of Jabal El-Silsila is one of the largest and most important regions used for cutting sandstone in Egypt and the world.

Also, it was used since the 18th Dynasty and continued till modern times. Most of the temples were cut of these quarries include the temples of Karnak, Luxor, Haabo, Kom Ombo, Edfu , Esna and Dandara.