Quseir al-Qadim — Mangrove Harbour Extension at Marsa Nakari West (Leukos Limen West) — v2
Quseir Mangrove West · Marsa Nakari West Bay · Leukos Limen West
Roman to Mamluk (25 BCE – 1450 CE)·Roman / Islamic (Ayyubid-Mamluk)·🇪🇬 Red Sea Governorate, Quseir al-Qadim mangrove west bay behind reef spit, Egypt
About
About Quseir al-Qadim — Mangrove Harbour Extension at Marsa Nakari West (Leukos Limen West) — v2
Mangrove harbour extension west of Quseir al-Qadim (Leukos Limen / Myos Hormos south extension), where the Roman-Islamic harbour's western mangrove bay now lies 1–2 m behind reef spit. Distinct from the southern Roman harbour extension already in database, this western mangrove preserves gypsum quay at –1.2 m, mangrove timber causeway at –1 m and 14th c. Islamic warehouse foundations mapped 2008 Southampton Islamic ports survey. Quseir al-Qadim overlies Myos Hormos foreshore; western mangrove handled medieval Hadrami incense dhows after 13th c. Ayvid revival. Mangrove peats seal Mamluk glass bead horizon at 1.5 m. Reef spit sheltered dhow lighters from northerlies.
Why it mattersWestern mangrove proves bipartite Quseir al-Qadim (Roman main + Islamic mangrove); Islamic warehouse ceramics calibrate medieval Red Sea incense revival and mangrove sea-level curve.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether western bay is Leukos Limen proper or later Islamic addition
- 02Attribution of Islamic warehouses to Quseiri vs Hadrami merchants?
Theories
- 01Western mangrove harbour succeeded Roman main after reef siltation c. 3rd c.
- 02Islamic harbour abandonment linked to Portuguese Red Sea blockade not silt alone
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 25 BCE Augustan harbour; western mangrove quay 13th c. Islamic
- Period
- Roman to Mamluk (25 BCE – 1450 CE)
- Culture
- Roman / Islamic (Ayyubid-Mamluk)
- Purpose
- Medieval incense and pepper dhow harbour — Hadrami connection behind reef protection
- Abandoned
- 1450 CE (Ottoman Quseir shift and mangrove infill)
- Rediscovered
- 1980s Whitcomb Islamic excavations; 2008 Southampton western mangrove coring
- Excavation
- Submerged
25 BCE
Augustan Myos Hormos/Leukos Limen harbour founded
13th c. CE
Ayyubid western mangrove quay and warehouses built
2008
Southampton Islamic ports survey maps mangrove quay at –1.2 m
On the ground
Structures & features
26.1450° N · 34.2380° E · -1 m · 3 mapped features
Gypsum Quay (50 m)
quay50 m gypsum quay at –1.2 m within mangrove fringe
26.1455° N · 34.2385° EMangrove Timber Causeway (30 m)
causeway30 m mangrove timber causeway at –1 m connecting quay to shore
26.1445° N · 34.2390° EIslamic Warehouse Foundation (14th c.)
warehouse14th c. Islamic warehouse 20×15 m coral-rag footing at –1 m
26.1450° N · 34.2380° E