Wadi al-Jarf South Galleries (Red Sea Harbour Annex)
Wadi al-Jarf South · Khufu Harbour South Galleries · Rod el-Khawaga South
Old Kingdom 4th Dynasty (2620–2500 BCE, Sneferu–Khufu)·Old Kingdom Egyptian·🇪🇬 Suez Governorate, Red Sea coast 119 km south of Suez, Wadi al-Jarf wadi mouth south bank, Egypt
About
About Wadi al-Jarf South Galleries (Red Sea Harbour Annex)
Southern annex of the world's oldest harbour (Khufu) with 8 rock-cut galleries storing mortised cedar boats and 150 anchors, plus Merer papyrus dump. South mole stub now -1 m. Recorded context — Period: Old Kingdom 4th Dynasty (2620–2500 BCE, Sneferu–Khufu); Culture: Old Kingdom Egyptian; Field status: excavated; Materials: sandstone, limestone, cedar boat timbers; Condition: galleries intact with boat timbers, papyrus fragments.
Why it mattersKey Old Kingdom 4th Dynasty (2620–2500 BCE, Sneferu–Khufu) site illustrating Old Kingdom Egyptian urbanism and oldest harbour's southern storage and boat galleries for sinai copper-turquoise .
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Boat assembly locus — on beach vs gallery
Theories
- 01Expedition rotation 6 months Red Sea sailing window
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Sneferu harbour 2620 BCE; Khufu galleries cut 2590 BCE
- Period
- Old Kingdom 4th Dynasty (2620–2500 BCE, Sneferu–Khufu)
- Culture
- Old Kingdom Egyptian
- Purpose
- Oldest harbour's southern storage and boat galleries for Sinai copper-turquoise expeditions
- Excavation
- Excavated
Sneferu harbour 2620 BCE; Khufu galleries cut 2590 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
20th century
Modern archaeological survey and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
28.8820° N · 32.6350° E · 5 m · 3 mapped features
- Wadi al-Jarf South Galleries (Red Sea Harbour Annex) — Harbour MolemoleHarbour mole at Wadi al-Jarf South Galleries (Red Sea Harbour Annex)28.8826° N · 32.6356° E
- Wadi al-Jarf South Galleries (Red Sea Harbour Annex) — Store GalleriesgalleryRock-cut galleries at Wadi al-Jarf South Galleries (Red Sea Harbour Annex)28.8820° N · 32.6350° E
- Wadi al-Jarf South Galleries (Red Sea Harbour Annex) — AnchorsharbourAnchor field at Wadi al-Jarf South Galleries (Red Sea Harbour Annex)28.8814° N · 32.6344° E