Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced Thursday the discovery of massive water reservoirs and cisterns, along with rare buildings and service facilities, at the archaeological site of the ancient port of Aydhab on the Red Sea coast in the Halaib region in southern Egypt near the Sudanese border. The port once served as a major transit point for pilgrims.
The discovery was made during excavation work carried out by an Egyptian archaeological mission affiliated with the Supreme Council of Antiquities at the site of the ancient port of Aydhab, which the ministry described as “one of the most prominent and important Egyptian ports during the Islamic period.”
Hisham el-Leithy, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the discovery highlights an important aspect of the service infrastructure on which the historic port of Aydhab depended. He noted that the water cisterns played a vital role in supporting maritime and trade activity, as well as meeting the needs of pilgrims arriving at the port on their way to the holy lands, according to the ministry’s statement.
Excavation work uncovered a massive main reservoir measuring approximately 15.10 meters in length, 3.15 meters in width and nearly three meters in height. It was constructed using sandstone and local coral stones, then coated with a layer of white lime mortar to insulate the water and prevent leakage. Several additional cisterns were also uncovered in the southern part of the site.
Diaa Zahran, head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities Sector, said archaeological surveys in the surrounding area also revealed the remains of residential building foundations, watchtowers and service facilities, indicating the existence of an integrated system for managing the port and meeting the needs of pilgrims and merchants who passed through it over many centuries.
The mission also uncovered a collection of artifacts, including pottery fragments dating back to the Fatimid era, some glazed in green, in addition to shards of imported Chinese porcelain. The finds reflect the flourishing commercial activity at the port and the breadth of its maritime trade network with many regions, particularly India, Yemen and East Africa.
Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathi described the discovery as “a contribution to highlighting the development witnessed by ancient Egyptian ports and the advanced infrastructure they possessed to serve trade routes and pilgrims.” In a press statement, he said the discovery confirms Egypt’s strategic status as a major civilizational and commercial center throughout history.
Fathi stressed the ministry’s commitment to excavation work and archaeological studies in border and remote areas because of their significant historical and cultural importance.
Historian Bassam el-Shammaa described the discovery as “one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 21st century,” telling Asharq Al-Awsat that “the importance of archaeological discoveries lies not in their size, but in the extent to which they deepen understanding of history across different periods.”
He said the discovery proves the existence of social and commercial ties linking Asia and Egypt that extended to China and other civilizations. He added that it also carries humanitarian and security dimensions through the discovery of service buildings and water cisterns dedicated to serving pilgrims during that period, as well as watchtowers used to secure the borders.
El-Shammaa proposed organizing tourism trips to Egypt’s ancient ports and making use of archaeological discoveries at several historic ports along the Red Sea and Mediterranean coasts.
The port of Aydhab was among the most prominent Red Sea ports during the Middle Ages, serving as a key station for pilgrims arriving from Egypt and the Maghreb on their way to the holy sites, in addition to playing a central role in maritime trade.
