A new archaeological discovery at Tell Abu Saifi in Qantara East, Ismailia, is shedding new light on the ancient Horus Military Road and strengthening the hypothesis that the site may be linked to the lost ancient Egyptian city of “Mesen,” according to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
The Egyptian archaeological mission working at the site uncovered a range of architectural elements and artifacts during the current excavation season, providing new insights into the site’s historical, architectural, religious, and military development across different periods.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy said the discoveries represent an important addition to efforts to document archaeological sites in North Sinai and the Qantara region, highlighting the strategic and cultural role the area played in protecting Egypt’s eastern borders throughout history.
He added that continued Egyptian excavations at sites associated with the Horus Military Road are helping reconstruct the historical route and its stations, while underscoring the importance of scientific archaeological excavation and documentation in uncovering new aspects of ancient Egyptian history.
Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the latest excavation season builds on decades of archaeological work at the site. He explained that the mission’s studies have led to a more accurate interpretation of previously discovered architectural elements and a better understanding of the site’s original layout and historical development.
The mission completed excavations of a massive mudbrick enclosure wall, including its gateways, interior rooms, and successive construction layers. Studies revealed that the structure represents the outer enclosure surrounding the temple rather than the temple itself, correcting previous interpretations of parts of the site.
El-Leithy noted that the newly discovered evidence presents a strong archaeological and historical hypothesis linking Tell Abu Saifi to the ancient Egyptian city of “Mesen.” However, excavations and scientific studies are still underway, with further evidence needed to conclusively establish the site’s identity.
Mohamed Abdel Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the mission also identified the remains of two successive stone roads leading from outside the fortified area into the temple. The first dates to the Ptolemaic period, while a narrower Roman-era road was later built above it.
The excavations also uncovered additional remains of the temple, including a series of storage rooms on its northern side and larger service rooms to the south leading to the sanctuary. The sanctuary was subsequently destroyed, apparently as a result of quarrying activities during the late Roman period.
Hisham Hussein, Head of the Central Administration for Lower Egypt and Sinai and head of the archaeological mission, said one of the most significant discoveries was half of a massive sandstone lintel, broken into two pieces. The lintel is inscribed on three sides with the titles of King Ramesses II, along with an inscription referring to restoration work carried out on a statue of the deity “Horus, Lord of Mesen.”
The inscription provides important evidence in the ongoing effort to determine the identity of the site and its potential connection to the ancient city of Mesen.
Mahmoud Galal, Director General of Sinai Antiquities and Director of the mission, said excavations also revealed a collection of artifacts with administrative and military significance. These included part of a schist statue dating to the 26th Dynasty and depicting an army scribe carrying a broken naos, highlighting the site’s strategic and military character.
The mission also discovered a headless and footless statue dating to the Late Period, a royal basalt statue torso, and fragments of falcon statues made of basalt and limestone.
The excavation results indicate that Tell Abu Saifi underwent several phases of development and transformation. The temple reached its architectural peak during the Ptolemaic period before parts of the site were reused as a military barracks, or “Castrum,” during the third century AD.
By the late Roman period, the site had been converted into a lime quarry. Archaeologists discovered two large circular kilns built over the two corners of the sanctuary area, containing remains of limestone that had been subjected to burning.
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