Shalfak

Coordinates: 21°32′30″N 31°2′25″E / 21.54167°N 31.04028°E / 21.54167; 31.04028
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Shalfak in hieroglyphs
G43D36
I9		 A24N25
X1 Ba15 Z2 Ba15a

Waf-Chastiu
Wʾf-ḫ3s.wt
Situation plan of Shalfak

Shalfak (originally Waf-Chastiu, "subduing the foreign lands")

12th Dynasty established to secure their southern frontier during a time where the Egyptian influence was sought out to be expanded. That is why Shalfak, along with the forts of Buhen, Mirgissa, Uronarti, Askut, Dabenarti, Semna, and Kumma, was established within signalling distance of each other.[2]

The fortress occupies a roughly triangular area of about 1800 m2, adapted to the available ground. Its massive mudbrick wall still stands up to 6 metres high and 8 meters thick. Three spur walls, towards the north, west and east, complete the fortification system. The eastern wall protects a stairway leading down to the river to ensure access to a water supply in the case of siege.[3] The internal structures are very well preserved including a command building, barracks, workshops, storerooms and a granary arranged in a grid plan.[4]

Excavations were conducted in February and March 1931 by a team of the

Museum of Fine Arts Boston under Noel F. Wheeler. Since 2017, a team under Claudia Näser from University College London is excavating again.[5]

References

  1. ISBN 978-0-679-60429-7
    .
  2. ^ "Shalfak | Discover Sudan! Archaeological and Cultural Tours". discoversudan.de. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
  3. ISBN 0-203-98283-5
    , pp.747-753.
  4. ISBN 0-203-98283-5
    , pp. 1083-1084.
  5. ^ Claudia Näser: Shalfak: a Middle Kingdom fortress in Lake Nubia, in Egyptian Archaeology 52, Spring 2018, pp. 4-9

21°32′30″N 31°2′25″E / 21.54167°N 31.04028°E / 21.54167; 31.04028


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