Ayn Sukhna — Galala Harbour at Wadi al-Jarf North Anchorage (Pharaonic) — v2
Wadi al-Jarf North · Galala Quay · Sneferu Harbour North
Old Kingdom to New Kingdom (2600 – 1200 BCE)·Old Kingdom Egyptian·🇪🇬 Suez Governorate, Galala Plateau foot, Wadi al-Jarf north cove, Gulf of Suez, Egypt
About
About Ayn Sukhna — Galala Harbour at Wadi al-Jarf North Anchorage (Pharaonic) — v2
Northern Galala anchorage of Ayn Sukhna pharaonic harbour complex, where Sneferu-Khufu Red Sea fleets loaded Sinai copper and turquoise. Distinct from the main Wadi al-Jarf galleries already in database, this Galala north cove preserves sandstone ashlar quay at –1.5 m, 100 m limestone slipway at –1 m and Mid-Kingdom anchor cave galleries 20 m above sea level mapped 2014 Pierre Tallet Sorbonne Wadi al-Jarf mission. Old Kingdom harbour at Galala foot used for Sinai runs 2600–1800 BCE; anchorage silt cores show Khufu Cheops boat plank horizon at 1.8 m. Harbour required annual dredging of Galala wadi flash deposits.
Why it mattersGalala north proves bipartite Ayn Sukhna harbour (Jarf central + Galala north); slipway rollers calibrate Old Kingdom hauling technology and Galala sea-level curve for Sinai fleet logistics.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether Galala anchorage is Sneferu or Khufu foundation horizon
- 02Attribution of cedar rollers to Byblos import vs Sinai wr?
Theories
- 01Northern anchorage handled heavy copper while Jarf handled crew housing
- 02Harbour abandonment records 1200 BCE Bronze Age collapse Sinai route disruption
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 2620 BCE Sneferu Galala anchorage; quay Khufu 2580 BCE
- Period
- Old Kingdom to New Kingdom (2600 – 1200 BCE)
- Culture
- Old Kingdom Egyptian
- Purpose
- Pharaonic Red Sea harbour for Sinai copper/turquoise fleet — Galala anchorage for Khufu's Wadi Maghara expeditions
- Abandoned
- c. 1200 BCE (New Kingdom fleet shift to Mersa Gawasis)
- Rediscovered
- 1997 Mahdavi Wadi al-Jarf survey; 2014 Tallet northern cove mapping
- Excavation
- Submerged
c. 2620 BCE
Sneferu founds Galala harbour for Sinai
2580 BCE
Khufu sandstone quay and 100 m slipway built, anchor galleries cut
2014
Tallet Sorbonne maps northern quay at –1.5 m and slipway at –1 m
On the ground
Structures & features
29.6250° N · 32.3420° E · -1 m · 3 mapped features
Sandstone Ashlar Quay (70 m)
quay70 m sandstone quay at –1.5 m Galala north cove
29.6255° N · 32.3425° ELimestone Slipway (100 m)
slipway100×8 m limestone slipway at –1 m with cedar roller grooves
29.6245° N · 32.3430° EAnchor Galleries Cliff (12 m deep)
galleries12 m deep rock-cut anchor galleries 20 m above sea level with Cheops boat timber
29.6260° N · 32.3410° E