Military Barracks, Weapons Stores Unveiled in Tell El-Abqain Archaeological area in Beheira

The Egyptian archaeological mission, led by Dr. Ahmed Saeed El-Kharadly, found a collection of mud brick structures used as military barracks for soldiers and storage for weapons, food, and supplies from the New Kingdom era. The discovery was made during archaeological excavations in the Tell el-Abqain archaeological area in Hosh Issa Center in Beheira Governorate. Additionally, many personal tools of soldiers and other archaeological finds were uncovered.

Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, highlighted the significance of this discovery as it validates the historical and archaeological importance of the El-Abqain Fort. The fort served as a key military outpost for the ancient Egyptian army along the western war road to safeguard Egypt's northwestern borders from attacks by Libyan tribes and sea peoples. He noted that the discovered architectural units displayed a well-planned layout, organized into two identical groups connected by a small passageway, demonstrating the ancient Egyptian engineer's adeptness at utilizing the surrounding environment for various purposes.

Dr. Ayman Ashmawy, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, further explained that initial studies of the finds confirmed the usage of some units as food supply warehouses for soldiers. These units contained large individual silos with remnants of large pottery vessels for storage, including fish and animal bones, as well as pieces of broken pottery. Additionally, cylindrical pottery ovens used for cooking food were also uncovered.

The mission found a long bronze sword decorated with engravings of the cartouche of King Ramses II, in addition to a group of archaeological finds that shed light on the daily activities of the residents of the fort, and their ideological and military thinking, such as weapons used in wars, hunting tools, decorations and personal hygiene such as ivory kohl sticks, beads and scarabs made of red agate and faience, and protective amulets.

Among the most important discoveries in the fort are a burial of a cow, a symbol of strength, abundance and prosperity, which distinguished the cow as a heavenly deity, and two limestone blocks, one of which has a hieroglyphic inscription of the titles of King Ramses II, and the other of an employee called "Bay", and a scarab made of faience decorated with the inscription "Amun - Lord of Heaven" and above his name a lotus flower, and another scarab bearing on its base the god "Ptah" made of schist, and half a bronze ring with an inscription of the god "Amun Horakhty" and two necklaces made of faience and agate of the Roman flower.