Rafah and Egypt have a long history dating back 3000 years ago. Egypt was frequently having to fight military battles and had created many defensive positions and strategies. They had created the Horus Military Route which spans 217 miles by the sea. It covers from Tharu to Egypt’s Border city of Rafah. In the area of Rafah a fort was discovered which hadn’t been excavated. The announcement about this discovery came from Zahi Hawass who it the chief of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities. There were supposed to 11 fortresses on the route from Tharu to Rafah on the Horus Military Route. This is known from the inscriptions on the Temple of Karnak in Luxor. This fortress is the fifth fortress found. At the fort they found a royal monument for King Thutmose II. King Thutmose II ruled in Egypt from 1516 to 1504 B.C.
There was also another discovery in the area of a New Kingdom Temple. This Temple is the first to be discovered in Sinai and dates back form 1569 BC to 1315 BC. This gives a glimpse into Egyptian Military and strategy historically. It shows how they set up their military throughout the years to help protect their Territory. They used these fortresses to help protect their Eastern sea border. They would help protect the mainland by alerting them to any incoming army or thread. They had water and supply stations for the fortresses and the ways of hours route. This route was used both by military and commercial traffic it is believed and may have supported a commercial economy in the area it went through.
The fort was 550 yards by 275 yard and was created of a mud brick. It had several towers standing 13 feet height. The towers dated back from 1304 B.C. to 1237 B.C. It is located 500 Kilometers from the Mediterranean sea. They have theorized that his fort was Egypt’s headquarters for the military from the New Kingdom Era (1569 B.C. To 1081 B.C.) Until the Ptolemaic era (330 B.C. To 30 B.C.). This discovery was part of a project that had begun in 1986 along the Horus Military Route to try to find the fortresses. There was also discoveries of warehouses along the route that the Ancient Egyptian Army used for supplies such as food and weapons. They have also found silver coins and others treasures. Some of the discoveries were found by people digging a tunnel under the hill that divide dies Gaza and Rafah.
Many of these archeological treasures are at risk due to the continued wars in the area and years of neglect. There are many possible new discoveries in the area based on the long history of war and continued populations living in the Rafah area. There are many layers of history in the Rafah area. Each Era that inhabited leaves behind their buildings and monuments. The next Era builds over it. There is an amazing amount of history in Rafah and the area around it. Due to the many conflicts in the area because of Gaza and the border crossing it makes it difficult to really search the area properly. Many discoveries are discovered by accident and there isn’t proper archeological technique or tools to help properly preserve the finds. This is a difficult situation as it is possible the some valuable archeological treasures will be lost if this situation continues. One can only hope that a way is found to preserve the items that have been found and to not destroy the treasures yet to be found in the Rafah area.