As a part of Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities’work in the Wadi al-Nasab area, Sinai Peninsula, an Egyptian archaeological mission has discovered the remains of a building believed to have been the living quarters of the leader of ancient Egyptian mining expeditions.
According to a statement released by the Ministry of Antiquities, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri revealed that this mission is the first to carry out excavations in this area.
“Located in the Al Nasb Valley in Sinai, the uncovered complex consisted of two stories and was built over an area of about 225 square meters,” Waziri explained.
The renowned Egyptologist noted that the first floor of the complex was made up of two halls, two rooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a staircase that leads to a second-floor where several smelting furnaces were found, leading the team to believe that it was probably used as a work area.
Moreover, Dr. Mustafa Nour El-Din, head of the mission and director of the Scientific Centre for Training in South Sinai and the Red Sea, mentioned that four copper ingots were found on the second floor, adding that each one weighs between 1,200 and 1,300 grams.
In the same connection, he said that the archeological team working in this area also found a number of column bases, which the mission believes were used to hold up the second floor of the building.
The team believes the excavated structure was built during the Middle Kingdom period, falling into disrepair after being neglected during the Second Intermediate period, 1782 to 1550 BC, according to Nour El-Din.
Nour El-Din said, “After a while, It was renovated and used again during the New Kingdom period, 1520 BC to 1075 BC.”
"Thereafter, the building was repurposed during the Roman conquest of Egypt," he added.
Contributed by Ahmed Emam
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