A joint Egyptian-International mission has unearthed a massive mud-brick fortification at the site of Tel el-Habua in the northern Sinai. Dating to the reign of Pharaoh Seti I, the complex served as a primary defensive and logistical hub along the 'Way of Horus,' the ancient military road connecting Egypt to the Levant. The excavation revealed barracks, a series of interconnected storehouses, and a central command building with walls still standing several meters high.
Key finds include several sandstone stelae and administrative ostraca detailing the distribution of grain and beer to stationed troops. The discovery provides unprecedented insight into the military infrastructure that allowed New Kingdom pharaohs to maintain long-distance campaigns. The site also yielded evidence of a sophisticated water management system, including clay-lined wells and drainage channels designed to sustain the garrison in the arid desert environment.