Ancient Egyptian fortress uncovers soldiers’ homes, royal inscriptions, and horse burial
Also found at the site were a number of scarabs, some bearing the names of Kings Ramesses II and Seti I, while others carry the names of several deities, including Amun, Sekhmet, Ptah, and Set.
Excavations at Tell el-Abqain, an ancient Egyptian fortress in Egypt's Beheira Governorate, have uncovered New Kingdom soldiers' homes, food storage facilities, royal inscriptions, and a horse burial. The site's strategic significance in protecting Egypt from Libyan tribal attacks during the New Kingdom period is confirmed by the discoveries.
In the northern residential complex, a four-meter-wide main road intersects with another street, providing access to the fortress. The complex includes rooms with silos for grain storage and cylindrical pottery ovens for food preparation. Near the fortress's southeastern corner, three stone wells with King Ramesses II's titles were previously discovered.
Mohamed Abdel-Badie, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, noted that some rooms were used to store wheat, with large pottery jars containing carbonized wheat grains serving as evidence of ancient food storage practices. The complete burial of a young male horse, likely used for military activities or war chariots, was also found.
The intentional burial, the horse's body positioning, and the orderly nature of the burial suggest it was buried ceremonially. Nearby cylindrical alabaster and limestone pieces may have been part of a chariot harness.
Numerous royal inscriptions, including a fragment of a limestone stele bearing hieratic inscriptions of 19th Dynasty pharaoh Merneptah, were discovered. A second limestone stele revealed the birth, coronation, and Horus names of King Ramesses II. Scarabs, amulets, jewelry, and various tools were also unearthed. Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy emphasized that the discovery enhances understanding of ancient Egypt's border security systems and offers insights into the daily lives of soldiers and residents at the fortress.
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