The mission of the Documentation of Rock Inscriptions Project in Sinai has discovered an archaeological cave which contained a variety of unique engraved scenes in the rock during their excavation work in Wadi El- Dholmah (Valley of the Darkness) in North Sinai.
Dr. Ayman Ashmawy, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, said that the cave was located at the entrance of one of the branches of the valley.
The area has precipice mountainous terrain which lies about 90 km southeast of the city of Qantara Sharq ( the Eastern Qantara) and 60 km east of the Suez Canal.
Dr. Ashmawy indicated that the cave is the first of its kind to be discovered in the Sinai Peninsula.
It is larger in area than the recently documented Zaranig Cave.
He revealed that the scenes engraved inside the cavern differ completely in the way of sculpture from those in the valleys of South Sinai. The newly found scenes were implemented in a distinct artistic manner and may be depicted as bas-relief style. Those scenes will be studied later to determine their history.
On the other hand, Dr. Hisham Hussein, director of Sinai Antiquities zone and head of the Documentation Mission, said that most of the unearthed scenes were carved along the walls of the inner cave and depict a number of animals, including unique images of camels, deer, mule, mountain goats and many of donkeys.
The mission also found about 200 meters southwest of the cave the remains of circular stone buildings where tolls made of flint strew. Those tools may be the remains of a settlement used in the past.
In the same context, Yahya Hassanein, Director General of Antiquities of El- Arish, said that the depth of the Cave of the Darkness Valley reaches 15 meters, and about 20 meters high.
The ceiling of the cave is weak limestone. The cave is filled with large quantities of animal waste and fire ash. This indicates the continuous use of the cave during the successive ages. It may be used as a shelter by the locals to protect them and their herds against rain, storms and hail in the winter.
Contributed by Ahmed Moamar
Follow the latest news on Google News
