Breakthrough as 3,200-year old remains of a military barracks unearthed in Egypt
The structure features a series of storerooms that were used to store grain and ovens for baking.
Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered a 3,200-year-old military barracks, uncovering a trove of artifacts, including a sword inscribed with hieroglyphs bearing the name of Ramesses II.
The structure features a series of storerooms that were used to store grain and ovens for baking.
The excavation team also unearthed pottery containing animal bones, including fish, and discovered multiple cow burials at the site, according to Ahmed El Kharadly, an archaeologist with Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities reports Live Science.
Cows In ancient Egypt symbolized "strength, abundance, and prosperity, as cows were revered as celestial deities," the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a translated statement.
However, El Kharadly thinks that, in this case, the cows would have been used for eating. He noted that cow bones were found in a silo area near an oven, “which confirms that they were probably divided into parts and then stored in Silos after drying,” El Kharadly said.
Archaeologists also uncovered weapons remains, including a bronze sword engraved with the name of King Ramesses II (who reigned from approximately 1279 to 1213 B.C.).
The sword was located in a small room within the barracks, near a point where enemies might attempt to breach the defenses, suggesting it was intended for combat use rather than decoration, according to El Kharadly.
Additionally, two inscribed limestone blocks were found: one with hieroglyphs mentioning Ramesses II, and the other referencing an official named "Bay," according to a statement.
The barracks were strategically placed along a military road in the northwest Nile Delta, allowing Egyptian troops to intercept groups approaching from the western desert or the Mediterranean Sea, the statement added.
Don't miss...
New XEC Covid variant - everything you need to know about strain and protection [INSIGHT]
Abandoned £20m UK airport once world's biggest is 39 miles from Heathrow [REVEAL]
The world's driest city where it rains less than anywhere else - not in Africa [SPOTLIGHT]
Peter Brand, a history professor and director of the Karnak Great Hypostyle Hall Project at the University of Memphis in Tennessee said: “It's an important discovery for understanding the strategy and especially the logistics of Egypt's military under Ramesses II.”
Other military sites built by Ramesses II, such as forts, have been found in northwest Egypt, but they are not as well preserved as this one, said Brand, who was not involved in the excavation.
Mr Brand told Live Science: “The weaponry demonstrates the place was well armed and may even have been able to produce some weapons on site.”
The bronze sword was "likely given to a high ranking officer as a royal reward," Mr Brand added, noting that "the king's name and titles engraved on it increased the prestige of its owner and 'advertised' the [king's] wealth, power, and generosity."
