3,000-year-old horse burial and Ramesses II stela found at ancient Egyptian fortress

Archaeologists working at Tell el-Abqain in Egypt’s Beheira Governorate have uncovered new evidence about life inside a New Kingdom military fortress.

The site stood on the western edge of the Nile Delta and formed part of Egypt’s defenses against attacks from Libyan tribes. Recent work has revealed homes, grain stores, ovens, wells, religious objects, and evidence linked to horses and chariots.

A large mudbrick housing complex forms one of the main discoveries. A four-meter-wide street runs east to west along its northern side. Another street crosses it from south to north. The main entrance connects with the southern entrance of the fortress, built from limestone.

The layout points to careful planning inside the stronghold. Rooms within the housing area held grain silos and pottery ovens. Residents used the ovens to prepare food and bake grain.

More homes stood near a group of wells in the fortress’s southeastern corner. Earlier excavations found three stone wells bearing titles of Ramesses II. The new buildings show how homes grew around water sources and areas used for daily work.

Some rooms north of the main street served as grain stores. Large pottery jars found inside still held charred wheat grains. The remains offer direct evidence for food storage and resource management within the fortress.

One unusual find was the complete burial of a young male horse. Early study suggests a medium-sized breed suited for speed and agility. Such horses likely served in training, military work, or in pulling war chariots during the New Kingdom.

The horse lay with its body intact, its head facing in an orderly direction. The burial appears deliberate and possibly ceremonial. Nearby, archaeologists found cylindrical pieces made from alabaster and limestone. These pieces likely belonged to decorative parts of a chariot harness.

Written finds add another layer to the site’s history. For the first time in excavations across the Beheira archaeological region, researchers found part of a limestone stela bearing a hieratic text linked to King Merneptah.

The surviving text describes the king’s strength and compares it with the power of the god Seth. The text also refers to Ptah, the creator god.

Another limestone stela bears the birth name, throne name, and Horus name of Ramesses II. A separate stela shows a bound prisoner with a bent body. His clothing identifies him as a Libyan prisoner from the Meshwesh tribes.

Religious objects also show how soldiers and other residents practiced their beliefs. Archaeologists found scarabs bearing the names of Ramesses II and Seti I. Other scarabs carry names and titles linked to Amun, Sekhmet, Ptah, and Seth.

The team also found amulets linked with protection, fertility, renewal, and strength. Examples include fish, lotus flowers, cobras, the nefer sign, and baboons.

Everyday objects add further detail. Pottery vessels served for storage, cooking, food service, perfumes, and oils. One flask was linked with pilgrimage to Abydos. The finds also include loom weights, parts of stone grinding tools, and balance weights.

Personal ornaments and jewelry point to social life inside the fortress. Together, the finds show a community where military duties existed alongside food preparation, craft work, religious practice, and other daily tasks.

Excavations and research are continuing at Tell el-Abqain. Future work aims to reveal more parts of the fortress and clarify its role in Egypt’s western frontier defenses during the New Kingdom.

More information: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities