Archaeologists in Egypt have unearthed a 4,000-year-old sun-dial inlaid with lapis lazuli stones in the Eastern Desert. The artifact, dating back to the Middle Kingdom, was found near a previously unknown ceremonial plaza, suggesting it was used to synchronize multi-day solar festivals across remote mining outposts.
The discovery provides new evidence that ancient Egyptian communities in remote regions maintained precise ritual calendars. The orientation of the sun-dial aligns perfectly with the spring equinox, linking it to the 'Festival of the Rising Sun', which celebrated the rebirth of vegetation and the Nile's seasonal cycles.