Ancient Egyptian fortress uncovers soldiers’ homes, royal inscriptions, and horse burial

Excavations at Tell el-Abqain, an ancient Egyptian fortress in the Beheira Governorate, have uncovered New Kingdom soldiers’ homes, food stores, royal inscriptions and a horse burial.

Announced last week by Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Ministry, the finds confirm the site’s strategic importance in protecting the the country from Libyan tribal attacks during the New Kingdom period.

In the northern sector of a large mudbrick residential complex, archaeologists found a four-meter wide main road running east to west, intersected by aanother street running south to north.

The main road reaches the southern entrance of the Tell el-Abqain fortress, connecting the residential area to the military site.

Several different rooms were discovered throughout the residential complex. Some, archaeologists found, contained silos for storing grain and cylindrical pottery ovens used for preparing food. A collection of rooms was also uncovered near the southeastern corner of the fortress, where three stone wells bearing the titles of King Ramesses II had previously been found.

Mohamed Abdel-Badie, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, noted that some of the discovered rooms, particularly those north of the main street, were used to store wheat.

Within those rooms, the excavation team located large pottery jars containing carbonized wheat grains, serving as direct evidence of ancient food storage and resource management.

One of the most notable finds at the site was that of the complete burial of a young male horse.

Preliminary studies showed the remains belonged to a medium-sized breed known for agility and speed, suggesting that it had likely been used for training, military activities, or pulling war chariots during the New Kingdom period.

The complete positioning of the horse's body, the direction of its head, and the orderly nature of the burial suggest it was buried deliberately, likely ceremonially.

A few meters from where the burial was found, archaeologists discovered cylindrical pieces of alabaster and limestone, believed to have been part of the decorative fittings of a chariot horse’s harness.

Numerous royal inscriptions found at Tell el-Abqain

Additionally, a fragment of a limestone stele bearing the remains of a hieratic inscription for the 19th Dynasty pharoah, Merneptah. It describes his strength and comparing it to the power of the deity Set, alongside a reference to the ancient Egyptian creator god Ptah.

Set, a powerful god in the ancient Egyptian pantheon, is often associated with chaos, the desert, and foreigners.

Khaled Abdel-Ghany Farahat, Beheira Antiquities director-general and excavation supervisor, explained that this is the first timein the history of excavations in the Beheira region that such a thing has been discovered.

The remains of a second limestone stele was also found at the site,with the birth name, coronation name, and Horus name of King Ramesses II, inscribed in hieroglyphics. A third stele depicting a bound Libyan captive in a bent posture of submission, was also found.

Role of religion in soldiers’ lives

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.

A collection of religious amulets related to concepts of protection, fertility, renewal, and strength was also found, including amulets in the shape of a fish, a lotus flower, a cobra, the "nefer" sign, and a baboon.

Both the discovery of the scarabs and the amulet reflect the role of religion in the lives of the soldiers and residents living at the fortress.

Several pottery vessels and shards used for storage and cooking were also found at the site, alongside a a pilgrim flask associated with pilgrimage to Abydos and assorted stone tools. Various pieces of jewelry and similar accessories were also found.

Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy stated that the discovery adds a new dimension to understanding ancient Egypt’s border security systems, as well as shines new light on the day-to-day activities at the fortress.