More re garrison found in Egypt’s eastern Delta

In Egypt, an ancient fortified garrison town from the time of King Psmatik I was discovered at Tell Dafna in the Ismailia governorate.

A Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) archaeological mission in Ismailia revealed the remains of a military town dating back to the 26th Dynasty (ca. 664-625 B.C.), at the site of Tell Dafna, between the El-Manzala Lake and the Suez Canal, 15km northeast of the city of western Qantara.

The northeast Delta held a special role in ancient Egypt. The area was a major hub for trade with the east. It was also the location of an ancient military and trade route known as the Ways of Horus connecting Egypt with the East. The area was used as a strategic position by the Late Period kings (ca. 747-525 B.C), especially those of the 26th Dynasty in order to defend the eastern borders of Egypt from invaders.

Dr. Zahi Hawass, secretary general of the SCA, said King Ramesses II of the 19th Dynasty (ca. 1279-1212 BC) chose the site of Tell Dafna to put up a fortress town on Egypt’s eastern border in order to repulse Egypt’s enemies. The newly discovered fortress indicates that King Psmatik I (ca. 664-610 BC) also built additional fortifications here.

Dr. Mohamed Abdel Maksoud, head of the Central Department of the Lower Egyptian Antiquities and the director of the mission, said that the newly discovered fortress covers an area of about 380×625m, while the enclosure wall is about 13m in width. It is considered to be the largest fortress ever discovered in the eastern Delta.

The team also revealed a large mud brick temple consisting of three halls, a group of storage magazines at the eastern and western sides of the temple and a small mud brick palace, with eight rooms, located at the northeast end of the temple.