Ancient Egyptian Fortress Uncovered in the Sinai Desert

by Ruben Becerril, age 13

Recently, a large military fortress was uncovered in the Sinai Desert, near the town of Sheikh Zuweid in Egypt.

The fortress included defensive towers and traces of ancient ovens. Its thick curving walls were constructed around 3,500 years ago, likely during Pharaoh Thutmose I’s reign. It spans about 8,600 square feet, making it among the largest defensive structures ever discovered in eastern Egypt. Studies show the fortress went through several phases of repair and redesign. The southern wall of the structure is almost 350 feet long and eight feet thick.

Excavation has revealed the remains of 11 different defensive towers and a zigzagging wall on the western side, which is almost 250 feet long. Hesham Hussein, the undersecretary for Lower Egypt and Sinai archaeology, says the pattern “helped the fortress endure harsh desert climates by reinforcing its stability and reducing the impact of wind and sand erosion.” This wall forced the fortress to split into north and south sections. The wall also served as a division between the fort and a residential area where soldiers may have resided. On the outskirts of this residential area, researchers found ovens that may have been used for domestic activities in the fort. They also found fossilized dough near the ovens.

A tower in the fortress contained a foundation deposit that featured a vessel stamped with the cartouche of Thutmose I. Pieces of volcanic rock, likely imported from Greek islands, were also found.

The fortress was located along an Egyptian road known as the “Way of Horus.” It was used for military and trade that once ran from Egypt to the Levant.

There is a long-held view that Thutmose I was “the father of Egypt’s empire in western Asia,” according to James Hoffmeier. If the fort was built during Thutmose I’s reign, it could confirm this view.

Much of the fortress remains buried. Archaeologists plan to resume excavations soon, hoping to uncover more ancient mysteries. They also plan to investigate a military port that possibly supported the fortress.

[Sources: Smithsonian Magazine; Archaeology Magazine]