New Kingdom Fortress Unearthed on North Sinai's Horus Military Road

The Egyptian archaeological mission working at the Tell El-Kharouba site in Sheikh Zuweid, North Sinai, has uncovered a major military fortress dating back to Egypt’s New Kingdom period. Located near the Mediterranean coast, the newly discovered structure is one of the largest and most significant fortresses ever found along the Horus Military Road — the ancient route that once linked Egypt with Palestine. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the discovery offers new insight into the military architecture of the New Kingdom and the strategic vision of its rulers, who built a vast defensive network to secure Egypt’s eastern borders. The find reinforces Sinai’s historical role as a land of enduring civilisational and strategic importance. Excavations revealed a section of the southern wall measuring about 105 metres long and 2.5 metres thick, featuring a side entrance 2.2 metres wide. Eleven defensive towers have been unearthed so far, along with parts of the northern and western walls. Archaeologists also discovered a zigzag-shaped wall running 75 metres along the western side, dividing the fortress from north to south and enclosing a residential area used by soldiers — a distinctive design characteristic of the New Kingdom. Finds include fragments of pottery, foundation deposits dating to the first half of the 18th Dynasty, and a vessel handle stamped with the name of King Thutmose I. Archaeologists also uncovered quantities of volcanic stone believed to have been transported from Greek islands, as well as a large bread oven and remnants of dough, indicating that the site once functioned as a self-sufficient military base. Preliminary studies show that the fortress underwent several phases of reconstruction and modification over time, including multiple redesigns of its southern entrance. The mission plans to continue excavations in search of the military port believed to have once served the site.