A Harbor for the Land of the Gods
On a fossil coral terrace overlooking the Red Sea, archaeologists found the remains of Egypt's most important harbor for expeditions to the fabled Land of Punt. The site, known in antiquity as Saww, was active during the Middle Kingdom's 12th Dynasty (circa 1985–1773 BCE). Excavations led by Kathryn Bard and Rodolfo Fattovich uncovered eight man-made caves carved into the rock. These were not tombs, but galleries for storing the components of entire seagoing vessels.
Inside these caves, researchers found a collection of nautical equipment: massive cedar ship timbers, some over a foot thick, coils of rope, limestone anchors, and curved steering oars. The ships were constructed in the Nile Valley from Lebanese cedar, then disassembled for a 150-kilometer overland trek through the desert to Saww. Once at the coast, workers reassembled the vessels for the long voyage south. This unique construction method, using un-pegged mortise-and-tenon joints secured with rope, allowed the ships to be built and taken apart as needed. After returning from Punt, the ships were again dismantled and stored in the caves, ready for the next expedition.