Archaeologists have reportedly uncovered one of the world’s oldest ports, dating back to the time of King Khufu, announced on Thursday Minister of Antiquities Mohamed Ibrahim.
The port was discovered in Wadi al-Garf, located on the Red Sea coast 180 km south of Suez.
Forty sheets of papyrus were also discovered at the site, covered in hieroglyphic texts that shed light on the daily lives of ancient Egyptians. The papyrus allegedly were monthly reports on the number of workers at the port and detailed their daily activities.
An Egyptian-French mission discovered the site, which Ibrahim said was one of the most important ports of ancient Egypt. Ships transporting copper and other metals reportedly frequented this port in ancient times.
A cluster of stone quays was also discovered at the site.
The papyrus sheets were transferred to the Suez Museum immediately after their discovery so that archaeologists and historians could study and document them, Ibrahim said.
Adel Hussein, head of the Egyptian Antiquities sector, said the mission has also discovered the remains of the homes of port workers, 30 caves and several stone tools.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
