Archaeologists in Egypt have made a significant discovery by uncovering the remains of a 3,200-year-old military barracks. The site contains a wealth of artifacts, including a bronze sword inscribed with the name of Ramesses II. The barracks likely served as a strategic stronghold to control the entrance into ancient Egypt from the western desert or Mediterranean Sea.
The structure features a series of storerooms for holding grain and ovens for baking. Archaeologists also found remains of pottery containing animal bones, including fish. Notably, multiple cow burials were unearthed at the site, which is significant given cows’ symbolic meaning in ancient Egyptian culture.
However, experts believe that these cows would have been used as a food source rather than revered as celestial deities. The presence of cow bones near an oven and silo area suggests they were likely divided into parts, dried, and stored for later consumption.
The sword inscribed with Ramesses II’s name is particularly noteworthy, indicating it was intended for fighting purposes rather than just for display. Additionally, archaeologists discovered two limestone blocks bearing hieroglyphic inscriptions mentioning Ramesses II and an official named “Bay.”
Experts believe this discovery sheds new light on the strategy and logistics of Egypt’s military under Ramesses II. The site may have been built in response to growing threats from the Libyans, as textual accounts suggest.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/ancient-egyptians/3-200-year-old-ancient-egyptian-barracks-contains-sword-inscribed-with-ramesses-ii