Cairo - Egypt
An Egyptian archaeological mission at the site of Tell Al-Aqbain in Beheira Governorate revealed qualitative discoveries that open an unprecedented window on the details of daily and military life inside one of the fortresses of the New Kingdom on the western border of the Nile Delta. The discoveries confirm that the fort was not just a defensive facility, but rather an integrated community that included housing, stores, and service facilities.

A residential complex and streets organized within the walls

The excavations resulted in a large residential complex built of mud brick, crossed by a main street four meters wide that intersected with another street, and its entrance was linked to the southern entrance of the fort, which was built of limestone. The complex included rooms containing silos for storing grains and cylindrical pottery kilns, an indication of an integrated subsistence system.

Charred wheat jars and economic implications

Inside the storerooms of the northern rooms, huge pottery jars were found that still contain charred wheat grains, which are direct evidence of the methods of storing food and managing resources inside the fort. These remains reveal the nature of the economic and living activity that existed at the site thousands of years ago.

A tribute horse burial links the site to the chariots
One of the most notable discoveries is a complete burial of a young male horse. Studies have shown that it is an agile breed that was likely used in training or pulling war chariots. Cylindrical pieces of alabaster and limestone were found near the burial, which are believed to be decorations of several chariot horses.

Evidence of ownership for the first time in lake excavations

Khaled Abdel Ghani Farhat, Director General of the Lake Antiquities Area and supervisor of the excavations, said that the excavation work resulted, for the first time in the history of the excavations in the Lake Antiquities Area, in finding part of a limestone plaque bearing a hieratic text about King Merneptah, which includes a description of his strength and an analogy to the strength of the god Seth, in addition to a reference to the god Ptah. He added that this painting provides new information to understand the development of the ancient Egyptian language during the reign of King Merneptah.

Importance for the Arab investor in cultural tourism
These discoveries open promising horizons for the Arab investor in the cultural tourism sector, as Al-Aqbaain Hill can be transformed into a qualitative destination within new paths outside the traditional pattern. The fort tells the story of soldiers who lived on the western borders of Egypt three thousand years ago, which gives it the elements of a tourist experience based on historical stories and archaeological field discoveries, which are areas that attract a growing segment of Arab visitors interested in heritage and civilization.