The Red Land : The Illustrated Archaeology of Egypt's Eastern Desert

For thousands of years Egypt has crowded the Nile Valley and Delta. The Eastern Desert, however, has also played a crucial―though until now little understood―role in Egyptian history. Ancient inhabitants of the Nile Valley feared the desert, which they referred to as the Red Land, and were reluctant to venture there, yet they exploited the extensive mineral wealth of this region. They also profited from the valuable wares conveyed across the desert between the Nile and the Red Sea ports, which originated from Arabia, Africa, India, and elsewhere in the east. Based on twenty years of archaeological fieldwork conducted in the Eastern Desert, The Red Land reveals the cultural and historical richness of this little known and seldom visited area of Egypt. A range of important archaeological sites dating from Prehistoric to Byzantine times is explored here in text and illustrations. Among these ancient treasures are petroglyphs, cemeteries, fortified wells, gold and emerald mines, hard stone quarries, roads, forts, ports, and temples. With 250 photographs and fascinating artistic reconstructions based on the evidence on the ground, along with the latest research and accounts from ancient sources and modern travelers, the authors lead the reader into the remotest corners of the hauntingly beautiful Eastern Desert to discover the full story of the area’s human history. The Red Land: The Illustrated Archaeology of Egypt’s Eastern Desert Contents Illustrations Preface 1 Historical Overview Prehistory The Predynastic Period The Early Dynastic or the Archaic Period The Old Kingdom The First Intermediate Period The Middle Kingdom The Second Intermediate Period The New Kingdom The Late Dynastic Period The Ptolemaic Period The Roman Period 2 Geography, Climate, and People Red Sea Eastern Desert Climate Historical Background Prehistory Pharaonic Period Ptolemaic Period Roman Period Controlling the Eastern Desert Desert Dwellers Desert Travel Modern Interest in the Eastern Desert Archaeological and Anthropological Work in the Eastern Desert 3 A Roman Imperial Road and the Northern Part of the Eastern Desert Antinoopolis The Via Nova Hadriana Sites along the Via Nova Hadriana Sites in the Northern Eastern Desert Abu Sha‘r 4 Shrines, Bathtubs, and Stone Quarries: How the Stone was Quarried and Moved Along the Desert Roads to the Nile Stone Quarries in the Late Predynastic to Late Pharaonic/Late Dynastic Periods Gebel Umm Naqqat Gebel Manzal al-Seyl Wadi Hammamat Rod al-Gamra Stone Quarries in the Roman Period Mons Porphyrites Satellite Settlements of Mons Porphyrites Mons Claudianus Wadi Umm Wikala (Mons Ophiates) Quarry Roads, Water Stops, and Forts 5 The Joys and Sorrows of the Desert Survey Site Extensive Surveying Global Positioning System Technology Site Intensive Surveying Surveying in Actual Practice Some of the More ‘Interesting’ Surveys The Burning Land Rover Survey, January 1989 Stuck in the Sand for Three Days: The Aborted January 1999 Survey The Hottest Survey We Ever Had: Summer 2001 6 Gods of the Desert: The Temples and Shrines of the Eastern Desert Pharaonic Temples and Shrines Ptolemaic Sanctuaries Bir Abu Safa Wadi Abu Diyeiba Roman and Early Christian Sanctuaries Sanctuaries at the Hard Stone Quarry Settlements Mons Porphyrites Mons Claudianus Umm Huyut Fatireh al-Beida Mons Ophiates Sanctuaries at the Emerald Mining Settlements Sikait Nugrus Ka‘b Marfu‘ Sanctuary at a Settlement of Unknown Function Bir Kareim Sanctuaries in Praesidia Sanctuaries in Red Sea Ports Myos Hormos and Marsa Nakari Berenike Christian Remains in the Eastern Desert Judaism Islam 7 The Horn of Plenty: International Trade Pharaonic Period Ptolemaic Era Ptolemaic Ports in Egypt Berenike Marsa Nakari Other Ptolemaic Red Sea Ports Philoteras/Aenum Roman Period Leukos Limen Leuke Kome Archaeological Remains of Ports Myos Hormos Berenike Causes of Death of the Harbors Extent and Nature of the Trade Ptolemaic Era Roman Era Costs of the Trade in Roman Times The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea Individuals Involved in the Commerce Written Evidence from the Desert Roads 8 Burying the Dead in the Eastern Desert Bir Asele Berenike and Environs Conclusion 9 El Dorado: Gold Mines in the Eastern Desert Gold Mining Methods Status of Gold Miners Gold Mining Sites in the Eastern Desert Bir Umm Fawakhir Abu Gerida Al-Ghuzza Umm Howeitat al-Qibli Conclusion 10 Living in the Desert The Earliest Inhabitants of the Desert Settlements of the Ptolemaic and Roman Period Stone Quarry Settlements Mons Claudianus Mons Porphyrites Wadi Umm Wikala/Wadi Semna Umm Huyut Mining Settlements Gold Mining Settlements Samut Umm Howeitat al-Qibli Bir Umm Fawakhir Amethyst Mining Settlement Wadi Abu Diyeiba Emerald/Beryl Settlements Praesidia Abu Sha‘r Apollonos Fort in Wadi Gemal Forts on the Myos Hormos-Coptos Road Red Sea Ports Quseir al-Qadim/Myos Hormos Berenike Settlements with Unknown Functions Construction of Houses in the Roman Period Conclusion 11 The Ma‘aza, ‘Ababda, and Bisharin Bedouin Boundaries of the Tribes The Ma‘aza The ‘Ababda The Bisharin Bedouin Housing Foods Fuel Drinking Coffee Livestock Appearance Earning a Living Religious Beliefs 12 Land of Gemstones: Emerald and Amethyst Mines in the Eastern Desert Amethysts Wadi al-Hudi TheWadi al-Hudi Inscriptions Wadi Abu Diyeiba Beryl/Emerald Mines Sikait Middle Sikait North Sikait Nugrus Wadi Umm Harba Lack of Fortifications Beryls/Emeralds in Jewelry 13 Water, The Desert Elixir Pharaonic Period Old Kingdom New Kingdom Ptolemaic and Roman Periods Sources of Water in the Eastern Desert Qulut Springs Wells Pipelines and Aqueducts Water Lifting Devices Water Uses 14 The Roads from Berenike to the Nile Ptolemaic Period Roads leading to and from Berenike Berenike-Apollonopolis Magna (Edfu) Road Berenike-Coptos (Quft) Road 15 The Last Frontier: The Southernmost Sites in the Eastern Desert Prehistory Pharaonic Period Ptolemaic Era Abraq Al-Ileigha Roman Period Wadi Kalalat and Siket Wadi Shenshef Hilltop Fort at Shenshef Indigenous Peoples and ‘Immigrants’ in the Eastern Desert in Ptolemaic and Roman Times Enigmatic Settlements in the Eastern Desert Suggestions for Further Reading Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Index Based On Twenty Years Of Archaeological Fieldwork Conducted In The Eastern Desert, This Book Reveals The Cultural And Historical Richness Of This Little Known And Seldom Visited Area In Egypt. A Range Of Important Archaeological Sites Dating From Prehistoric To Byzantine Times Is Explored Here In Text And Illustrations. Among These Ancient Treasures Are Petroglyphs, Cemeteries, Fortified Wells, Gold And Emerald Mines, Hard Stone Quarries, Roads, Forts, Ports, And Temples. With Over 280 Photographs And Artistic Reconstructions Based On The Evidence On The Ground, Along With The Latest Research And Accounts From Ancient Sources And Modern Travelers, The Authors Lead The Reader Into The Remotest Corners Of The Hauntingly Beautiful Eastern Desert To Discover The Full Story Of The Area's Human History.--jacket. Historical Overview -- Geography, Climate, And People -- A Roman Imperial Road And The Northern Part Of The Eastern Desert -- Shrines, Bathtubs, And Stone Quarries : How The Stone Was Quarried And Moved Along The Desert Roads To The Nile -- The Joys And Sorrows Of The Desert Survey -- Gods Of The Desert : The Temples And Shrines Of The Eastern Desert -- The Horn Of Plenty : International Trade -- Burying The Dead In The Eastern Desert -- El Dorado : Gold Mines In The Eastern Desert -- Living In The Desert -- The Ma'aza, 'ababda, And Bisharin Bedouin -- Land Of Gemstones : Emerald And Amethyst Mines In The Eastern Desert -- Water, The Desert Elixir -- The Roads From Berenike To The Nile -- The Last Frontier : The Southernmost Sites In The Eastern Desert. Steven E. Sidebotham, Martin Hense, Hendrikje M. Nouwens. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 377-411) And Index.