Cairo: An Egyptian archaeological mission has uncovered a remarkable collection of remains at Tell al Abqain in Beheira Governorate. The discoveries offer a glimpse into the lives of soldiers and families inside a New Kingdom fortress built to defend Egypt's western Delta frontier. The finds include homes, grain stores, ovens, a carefully buried horse, and inscriptions bearing the names of King Ramesses II and King Merneptah.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy said that the discoveries provide a broader picture of the fortress, going beyond its military role to reveal how its inhabitants lived, stored food, and practiced their religious beliefs. Excavations uncovered a large mud-brick residential complex built around a main street about four meters wide.
A second street intersects the main road and connects with the fortress's southern limestone entrance, showing the organized layout of the settlement. Inside the rooms, archaeologists found grain silos, pottery ovens, and large jars that still contained carbonized wheat. Together, the finds depict daily life behind the fortress walls, where food had to be stored, prepared, and managed for those living far from Egypt's main population centers. Nearby, the mission discovered residential rooms close to three stone wells bearing titles of Ramesses II.
One of the most striking discoveries was the complete burial of a young male horse. Preliminary studies suggest it belonged to a medium-sized, agile breed that may have been used for military training or to pull chariots. The position of the horse suggests it was deliberately and carefully buried, possibly as an act of honor. Just a few meters away, archaeologists found alabaster and limestone pieces believed to have formed part of a chariot horse harness.
The mission also found part of a limestone stela with a hieratic inscription from the reign of Merneptah, as well as another fragment carrying the birth, throne, and Horus names of Ramesses II. A separate stela depicts a bound captive believed to be from the Libyan Meshwesh tribes, adding further evidence of the fortress's military role on Egypt's western frontier. Other discoveries include scarabs bearing the names of Ramesses II and Seti I, religious amulets, pottery, weaving weights, grinding stones, and personal ornaments.