Archaeologists make a spectacular discovery while excavating an ancient Egyptian fortress

While excavating an ancient site in the northern Sinai Desert, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a tree-lined pathway leading to the entrance of a massive fortress.

A Well-Tree-Lined Pathway

This discovery occurred at the site of Tell Abu Saifi, known to have housed a massive Egyptian fortress during the Ptolemaic period (304 to 30 BCE), a time when Egypt was ruled by a dynasty of kings descended from one of Alexander the Great’s generals.

Previous excavation campaigns indicated that the structure had undergone modifications and expansions over the centuries. Now, archaeologists from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities have discovered 500 “planting circles” made of clay, approximately 2,000 years old, along the pathway leading to the fortress.

“That would indicate a considerable number of trees, but previous archaeological discoveries and papyrus texts suggest large-scale plantations [crops, vineyards, and trees] in Ptolemaic Egypt,” notes Elizabeth Macaulay from the City University of New York. She believes that analyzing samples from these circular structures could reveal root remains and help identify the plant species that were cultivated.

Archaeologists in Egypt unearthed a unique tree-line pathway leading to a hidden ancient Egyptian fortress, from the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, in the Sinai Desert. This discovery reveals new information about defensive strategies and architectural choices on ancient Egypt’s… pic.twitter.com/UCt8gCrCfd

— Ancient Origins (@ancientorigins) May 7, 2025

Other Discoveries at Tell Abu Saifi

The archaeological team also found that the fortress was once surrounded by a moat over two meters deep, which would have aided in its defense against assaults from the Seleucid Empire, the Roman Republic, or rebel groups operating in Egypt.

Other findings include the remains of a residential area likely housing soldiers and their families, along with a segment of a paved road made of limestone slabs, stretching about 100 meters long and 11 meters wide.

Unexpectedly, the foundations of a structure predating the fortress, likely of a military function, were also identified.

A few months ago, the ruins of a 3,200-year-old barracks, which housed a sword inscribed with the name of Ramses II, were discovered in the northern part of the country.