Gabal El Haridi

Gabal El Haridi is an archaeological site in Egypt approximately 350 kilometers south of Cairo within Sakulta, in Sohag Governorate in Upper Egypt. The site is located south of Qaw El Kebir (Tjebu), in an area between the towns of El Nawawra and El Gelawiya. The site is very important historically because of the Coptic presence throughout the site. This is because this was the beginning of the use of isolated monasteries that brought the hermits together in a settled community.

Significant unknown writings from the Ptolemaic period were found and recorded. The extensive quarrying throughout time suggests that Gabal El Haridi contained one of the more important sources of stone under the Ptolemies and Ramses III. The looting and destruction of the site has caused the site archaeologists great difficulty in determining specific details such as dates and owners of tombs. The details that have been obtained have allowed for a greater understanding of the changes in use of the site throughout its occupation for three thousand years.