New discoveries at Egypt’s Tharu Fortress

An Egyptian excavation mission uncovered two lintels on the eastern gate of the Tharo military fortress in North Sinai, Egypt's minister of antiquities announced on Tuesday.

The discovered part of the eastern gate of Tharu fortress are 3 fragments 
of limestone with inscriptions of Ramses II of 3 meters length 
and 1 meter width [Credit: MOA]

Mamdouh Eldamaty revealed that the lintels are made up of three limestone blocks and are engraved with scenes depicting King Ramses II from the New Kingdom period. Each block is three metres tall and one meter in width, indicating that the fortress' gate was very large.

Eldamaty explained that from this fortress, Egypt's military forces used to flock out to safeguard the country's eastern borders on Horus military road that once connected Egypt to Palestine.

The Egyptian Mission working at the site also uncovered royal warehouses made 
of mud brick that belonged to Thutmosis III and Ramses II, and some seals bearing
 the name of Thutmosis III. A cemetery dating the 26th Dynasty was also found.
 Its tombs contained bodies marked with battle injuries. [Credit: MOA]

The mission also unearthed a collection of mud brick store houses which were used during the reigns of kings Tuthmosis III and Ramses II. A collection of stamps bearing the name of king Tuthmosis III were also uncovered.

A 26th dynasty necropolis was also found, along with human skeletons.

Eldamaty added that all the objects found in this area will be restored so that they can be displayed in a museum on Egyptian military history, which is set to be built in two years.

Author: Nevine El-Aref | Source: Ahram Online [May 05, 2015]