Posted on 01/27/2006 6:14:52 PM PST by NormsRevenge
CAIRO, Egypt - An American-Italian team of archaeologists has found the remains of 4,000-year-old ships that used to carry cargo between Pharaonic Egypt and the mysterious, exotic land of Punt, the Supreme Council of Antiquities has announced.
The ships' remains were found during a five-year excavation of five caves south of the Red Sea port of Safaga, about 300 miles southeast of Cairo, the chairman of the supreme council, Zahi Hawass, said in a statement late Thursday.
The archaeologists, who came from Boston and East Naples universities, found Pharaonic seals from the era of Sankhkare Mentuhotep III, one of seven rulers of the 11th dynasty, which lasted from about 2133 B.C. to 1991 B.C.. They also found wooden boxes, covered with gypsum, bearing the inscription "Wonders of the land of Punt."
For the ancient Egyptians, Punt was a source of prized goods such as incense, ivory, ebony, gum and the hides of giraffes and panthers that were worn by temple priests. But the precise location of Punt remains a mystery. Historians have variously placed it in Sudan, Eritrea or Somalia.
Hawass said the remains showed the ancient Egyptians were "excellent ship builders" and that they had a fleet capable of sailing to remote lands.
"All the pieces found are in good shape and they will be moved for restoration and display," Hawass added in the statement.
Other artifacts included 80 coils of rope and pieces of pottery that date to the reign of Mentuhotep III.
If they don't know where Punt was, how do they know the ships went there?
There's a smart a@@ comment here somewhere.
If they don't know where Punt was, how do they know the ships went there?
Im gonna have to punt on that one. (ducks&covers)
Punt ping
WOW!
That's interesting. Good post.
RightWhale wrote:
"If they don't know where Punt was, how do they know the ships went there?"
---Do you think it was a Pirates of the Carribean type thing? Maybe they needed a faulty compass to get to Punt :)
Same with Ophir.
It's amazing what people were able to do back then, before the invention of modern electronics.
wrong Mentuhotep, but otherwise, a related topic:
Burial complex of Mentuhotep II
The History of the Ancient Egyptians | May 2002 | Ian Bolton
Posted on 07/27/2004 11:56:40 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1179621/posts
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From the article: "They also found wooden boxes, covered with gypsum, bearing the inscription "Wonders of the land of Punt."
===
It's amazing what one finds out, if one continues reading... ;)
Tsk, Tsk, you didn't read it either.
See my post 16 and prepare to be embarrassed. ;)
Wonder where Punt really was located.
But the precise location of Punt remains a mystery. Historians have variously placed it in Sudan, Eritrea or Somalia.Nyah, nyah :')
This is interesting in the context of this article, as Hatshepsut made the biggest deal about traveling to Punt.Speos Artemidos (Grotto of Artemis)About 2 miles southwest of Beni Hassan is the Cave of Artemis, which was hewn out of rock. It is located in the Batn el-Baqara wadi and is dedicated to the lion-goddess Pakhet (she who scratches), otherwise known as Artemis. There are scenes of offerings to various gods, but the most interesting thing here is an inscription over the entrance which states that Hatshepsut (18th Dynasty) has rid Egypt of the Hyksos. Actually, she did not.
by Jimmy Dunn
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