A Large Camp Where Gold Was Mined and Processed in Antiquity, Found in Southeastern Egypt

Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has completed the Revival of the Ancient Gold City project, a groundbreaking initiative that uncovered and preserved a 3,000-year-old gold mining camp in the Sakari Mountain area, southwest of Marsa Alam. This effort, in collaboration with the Sakari gold mine administration, aimed to protect Egypt’s historical heritage from modern mining activities. 

The excavations revealed a well-structured mining complex with advanced gold extraction techniques, including **quartz crushing, filtering, and smelting in clay furnaces. In addition to industrial remains, archaeologists discovered dwellings, workshops, temples, administrative buildings, Ptolemaic baths, and artifacts from later periods, including Roman and Islamic eras. 

A significant find includes 628 ostraca (pottery fragments with inscriptions in hieroglyphic, demotic, and Greek), bronze Ptolemaic coins, terracotta figurines, small stone sculptures of deities, offering tables, and ceramic vessels. These discoveries provide insight into the linguistic, cultural, and economic life of ancient mining communities. 

To preserve these findings, a replica of the mining camp was built in a six-acre area, and a modern visitor center was established, featuring high-definition displays and informational panels. This project highlights Egypt’s long history as a major gold production center and enhances its archaeological significance