10,000 Years of History Unearthed at Newly Discovered Site in Sinai, Egypt

Engraved figures connected a chromatic surface. Credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

Archaeologists successful Egypt person uncovered a antecedently chartless tract successful South Sinai that preserves thousands of years of quality activity, including ancient stone art, past inscriptions, chromatic tools, and traces of repeated habitation.

The find was made by a ngo from the Supreme Council of Antiquities during archaeological survey and documentation enactment successful a distant godforsaken country of the peninsula. The tract has been identified arsenic the Um ‘Irak Plateau and is already being described arsenic 1 of the astir important archaeological discoveries successful the portion successful caller years.

Prehistoric paintings and engraved hunting scenes

Lightly incised engravings disposable connected a level stone face. Credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

The astir striking finds are extended stone paintings and carvings dispersed crossed a earthy sandstone stone structure connected the eastbound broadside of the plateau.

The structure extends for much than 100 meters (328 feet) and contains a ample fig of paintings executed successful reddish pigment connected its ceiling. These images picture animals and symbolic forms that researchers person tentatively dated to betwixt astir 10,000 and 5,500 BC.

Red and dark-pigment markings preserved connected a stone aboveground astatine the Um ‘Irak Plateau. Credit: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

Archaeologists besides documented a abstracted radical of drawings made successful grey pigment, recorded for the archetypal clip astatine the site. In addition, shallow alleviation engravings amusement scenes of hunters utilizing bows to prosecute ibex, accompanied by hunting dogs. Researchers accidental these images bespeak the regular life, skills, and economical activities of aboriginal quality communities.

Evidence of semipermanent concern and regular life

A conception of stone structure wall. Credit: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

Inside the stone shelter, archaeologists recovered wide signs of repeated quality use. Stone partitions disagreement parts of the structure into abstracted surviving spaces. At the halfway of respective of these areas, researchers identified traces of occurrence layers, indicating regular habitation implicit agelong periods.

Large quantities of carnal droppings were besides documented, suggesting that the structure was aboriginal utilized to location some radical and livestock. Experts accidental the abstraction apt provided extortion from rain, beardown winds, and acold weather, showing however earthy formations were adapted for survival.

Tools, pottery, and inscriptions span thousands of years

View from wrong a earthy stone structure astatine the Um ‘Irak Plateau. Credit: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

Survey enactment crossed the plateau uncovered flint tools and ample numbers of pottery sherds. Some of the pottery dates to Egypt’s Middle Kingdom, portion different fragments beryllium to the Roman period, including examples from the 3rd period AD. These finds corroborate that the tract remained successful usage crossed aggregate humanities eras.

Later carvings picture camels and horses, immoderate ridden by equipped figures. Several of these scenes look alongside Nabataean inscriptions, pointing to periods of trade, travel, and taste enactment successful the region. Archaeologists besides documented Arabic inscriptions, providing grounds of continued usage during the aboriginal Islamic periods and beyond.

Strategic plateau adjacent past mining routes

Rock partition bearing galore carved inscriptions and symbols. Credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

The Um ‘Irak Plateau lies successful a sandy country astir 5 kilometers (3 miles) northeast of the Temple of Serabit el-Khadim and adjacent past copper and turquoise mining zones. Its elevated presumption overlooks a wide unfastened country stretching northbound toward the Tih Plateau.

Researchers judge the plateau served aggregate roles implicit time, including arsenic a lookout point, a gathering place, and a remainder halt for radical moving done the region.

Officials item technological and taste importance

Wide presumption of a stone face. Credit: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

Sherif Fathy said the find represents a large summation to Egypt’s archaeological grounds and strengthens knowing of Sinai’s relation arsenic a crossroads of civilizations. He added that specified discoveries besides heighten Egypt’s presumption connected the planetary taste tourism map.

Hisham El-Leithy, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, described the plateau arsenic 1 of the astir important stone creation sites identified successful caller years. He said the wide scope of creator styles and inscriptions turns the tract into an open-air depository documenting the improvement of quality look from prehistoric times done the Islamic periods.

Local practice and aboriginal research

Mohamed Abdel-Badei said the find is portion of ongoing efforts to survey and papers stone creation crossed South Sinai, carried retired with enactment from residents of the Serabit el-Khadim area. He said assemblage engagement plays a cardinal relation successful protecting taste heritage.

Researchers accidental further technological investigation is underway to refine dating, survey creator techniques, and make a semipermanent program for preserving and documenting the Um ‘Irak Plateau.