Khufu Harbor Discovered in Egypt

Egypt, oh Egypt?  What shall become of you?  You are engulfed in ongoing unrest and revolution. Your lifeblood - tourists - have fled, particularly tourists from the west - we who spend the most money. Liberated women from the parts of the world where we have broken our shackles of slavery to mere mortal men shun you for your shameful treatment of all females, domestic and foreign.  Your government, meanwhile, rallies unemployed young men in the streets for a loaf of bread a day, crying out that this is all the fault of the United States, expecting that we will believe your lies while you let rapists of foreign female reporters and female tourists roam your streets unpunished.  Did you think we would not hear about these things, that they are not publicized for all to read and think about?  Do you think at all, Egypt?

Egypt, oh Egypt, you have become sickened with a dread disease, and I fear you are dying.  And if you die, what else will die with you as the vultures sweep in and carry away your legacy, bit by bit, piece by piece?  Either destroyed by religious fanatics or sold off to the higest bidders.  I am mourning for you, Egypt, and mourning for myself, that I will never, now, travel to you and see your wonders for myself, but may yet live to see them all destroyed forever. 

The information in the final paragraph of the article (below) about ships' ropes and stone tools being discovered in the caves, that sounds familiar. Perhaps this story was reported on earlier.  Iran does the same thing - keeps regurgitating old news and presenting it as new in official and semi-official mediat outlets, with the intent of fooling westerners into believing that ongoing research and discoveries are taking place, that nothing actually has changed from the 'good old days,' when the reality is so different. 

From ahramonline

Egypt's King Khufu's harbour in Suez discovered

French-Egyptian archaeological mission discover the oldest commercial harbour from fourth dynasty Egyptian King Khufu at Wadi Al-Jarf area, 180 km south of Suez

Nevine El-Aref , Thursday 11 Apr 2013
(Video at website)

On the Red Sea shore at Wadi Al-Jarf area along the Suez-Zaafarana road, a French-Egyptian archaeological mission from the French Institute for Archaeological Studies (IFAO) stumbled upon what it believed to be the most ancient harbour ever found in Egypt.

The harbour goes back to the reign of the fourth dynasty King Khufu, the owner of the Great Pyramid in Giza Plateau. The harbour is considered one of the most important commercial harbours where trading trips to export copper and other minerals from Sinai were launched.

A collection of vessel anchors carved in stone was also discovered as well as the harbours different docks.

Minister of State for Antiquities Mohamed Ibrahim announced that a collection of 40 papyri, showing details of daily life of ancient Egyptians during the 27th year of King Khufu’s reign, was also unearthed during excavation work carried out.

“These are the oldest papyri ever found in Egypt,” asserted Ibrahim.

He also stated that these papyri are very important because it reveals more information on the ancient Egyptians’ daily life, as it includes monthly reports of the number of labours working in the harbour and details of their lives.

The papyri have been transferred to the Suez Museum for study and documentation.  French Egyptologist Pierre Tallet, director of the archaeological mission, pointed out that it is very important to carefully study the information in these papyri because it will introduce plenty of information about this period. The papyri will also show the nature of life that the ancient Egyptians once lived, their rights and duties, which we know little about, Tallet added.

The mission has also succeeded in discovering remains of workers’ houses, which reveals the importance of this harbour and area commercially whether among the different cities of Egypt or abroad, said Adel Hussein, head of the Ancient Egyptian Sector at the Ministry of State for Antiquities.

A collection of 30 caves were also discovered along with the stone blocks used to block their entrances, inscribed with King Khufu’s cartouche written in red ink. Ship ropes and stone tools used to cut ropes and wooden remains were discovered as well.