The remains of a building believed to be an inn for medieval travelers were unearthed during excavations carried out in the previously lost city of Asila, Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Ministry announced earlier this month.
The discovery comes as part of the ministry’s efforts to excavate and shed light on the history of the Sinai desert, its cities, and ancient trade routes.
Asila is located in the northern Sinai along the Egyptian Hajj Route, or the Sultan’s Road, an extensive trade and pilgrimage route that connected Egypt with the Levant and Arabian Peninsula between the early Islamic and the Ottoman periods.
The Crusader threat to the region halted use of the route during the 11th century CE, causing the pilgrimage route to shift to the southern path leading through Aydhab, an ancient Egyptian Red Sea port, and the Saudi Arabian coastal city of Jeddah.
Mudbrick and red brick walls with limestone-reinforced foundations were unearthed at the Asila site, a method not uncommon in Islamic-era construction, according to Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
Leithy added that the walls, which stretch toward the north, east, and south, bear evidence of having once contained several internal rooms, which may have been used as store fronts attached to the inn.
The site’s overall layout closely resembles that of Khan al-Khuwainat, another ancient commercial site found in the northern Sinai, Leithy said.
He noted that while Asila is smaller than Khan al-Khuwainat, the similarity between the two lends support to the theory that both served as rest stops for merchants and travelers along the trade route.
Green-glazed vessels, pottery point to reign of Mamluk sultan
Vessels painted with an olive-green glaze, as well as glazed and decorated pottery fragments found at the site point to the site belonging to the reign of Mamluk Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad of the Bahri dynasty.
Some artifacts found also bear Arabic letters that may form part of the word “al-Nasir," though further analysis of the fragments is needed to precisely date the site and determine the function of its structures.
Red and white decorated pottery and fragments of lamps have also been found at the site.
Infastructure supporting trade, pilgrimage during Islamic period
“The discovery contributed to understanding the nature of the infrastructure that supported trade, pilgrimage, and military movements during the Islamic periods,” explained archaeological mission heads Mohamed Khalil and Saddam Hussein.
It also helps in studying the network of rest stations strategically built along Sinai’s routes to serve travelers and caravans, the two said.
The discovery at Asila opens a window into the trade network connected Egypt with the Arabian Peninsula, said Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy.
He described the discovery as an “important addition to a series of archaeological discoveries that contribute to rereading Sinai’s history and shedding light on the civilizations and communities that flourished on its land.”