An ancient port once used to move the stone for building temples and obelisks has been discovered in Egypt, according to the country's Ministry of Antiquities.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the ministry said the main port used to ferry stone along the Nile from the Gebel el-Silsila quarries had come to light during an archaeological mission excavating the ruins of Kom Ombo near Aswan.
The port, on the west bank of the Nile, stretches for more than 100 meters and sits roughly 200 meters from a large quarry, said Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
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River silt and vegetation were cleared from the site, revealing inscriptions and the fittings once used to moor boats.
Gebel el-Silsila is a major source of sandstone in Egypt. Abdul Moneim Said, director general of the Council of Antiquities for Aswan and Nubia, said it was used extensively from the 18th Dynasty right through to the modern era.
The stone used to build temples such as Al-Karnak, Habu, Kom Ombo and Dendera was mostly quarried in this area, Said noted in the announcement.
The discovery of the port is the latest in a string of recent archaeological announcements. Egypt is hoping to boost tourist interest in a destination that has suffered since the 2011 uprising.
