Egypt Discovers Ancient Copper Workshops in Sinai

Archaeologists find past copper smelting workshops and sandstone buildings astatine the Wadi al-Nasb tract successful South Sinai, Egypt. Credit: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

An archaeological ngo successful South Sinai, Egypt, has uncovered past copper smelting workshops, administrative buildings, and reflection posts astatine the Wadi al-Nasb site, offering caller penetration into Egypt’s agelong past of mining.

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the find connected Sunday, describing it arsenic portion of ongoing excavations aimed astatine documenting Sinai’s relation successful supplying metals to past Egypt. Officials said the find underscores the region’s strategical value arsenic a root of copper and turquoise and reflects Egypt’s enduring beingness successful the area.

Ministry links find to practice and tourism

Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sharif Fathy said the mission’s enactment highlights the pioneering relation of ancient Egyptians successful managing mineral resources. He added that linking these achievements to modern concepts of sustainable improvement tin besides unfastened caller horizons for taste tourism successful Sinai, which inactive holds galore secrets.

Evidence shows centuries of mining

Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, stated that excavations person revealed architectural and concern grounds indicating that mining astatine Wadi al-Nasb continued from the Old Kingdom done the Late Period. He noted that enactment flourished during the New Kingdom, erstwhile smelting operations reached their peak.

Archaeologists uncovered copper alloy ingots of antithetic shapes and sizes, on with blowpipe heads, which helium said confirmed the beingness of an organized strategy for producing and casting copper earlier it was transported to the Nile Valley for usage successful crafts, weaponry, and administration.

Central store and tools uncovered

According to the ministry, the squad besides unearthed portion of a ample cardinal store that contained aggregate smelting furnaces. Finds included ore mentation tools, pottery crucibles, amphorae, vessels, and ample amounts of ember made from section trees.

Blocks of axenic clay utilized to nutrient tuyères, blowpipe heads of antithetic sizes, copper slag, and ingots — 1 weighing much than a kilogram — were besides discovered.

Sandstone buildings uncover a dual purpose

Mohamed Abdel-Badie, caput of the Egyptian, Greek, and Roman Antiquities Sector astatine the council, said 2 sandstone buildings were identified: 1 astatine the occidental entranceway of Wadi al-Nasb and different eastbound of its junction with Wadi al-Sour. Both were archetypal utilized arsenic reflection points and aboriginal converted into workshops with respective furnaces during the New Kingdom.

A 3rd operation hints astatine earlier activity

Mission person Hisham Hussein, who besides heads the Central Administration for Lower Egypt Antiquities, said the team examined a 3rd sandstone gathering astatine the confederate borderline of Wadi al-Sour. The operation apt served arsenic a power and monitoring station for mining expeditions and whitethorn day to earlier the New Kingdom.

Officials said the ngo continues its enactment astatine Wadi al-Nasb, seeking much grounds that volition deepen knowing of Sinai’s spot successful Egypt’s concern and economical history.