Mamluk-era water system and mosque discovered in Egypt

A water supply system and a mosque from the Mamluk Era in Egypt were discovered by archaeologists in the region of Salah al-Din Al-Ayoubi Castle, better known as Saladin's Citadel, in Cairo.

The discovery was made by a joint Egyptian-French archaeological mission between Egypt's Supreme Council of Archeology and the French Institute of Oriental Archeology (IFAO). The Citadel is a medieval-era fortress with large walls built in the 12th century during the Crusades.

The mission is part of a scientific project carried out in two areas around the castle, in the Arab al-Yasar and al-Hattaba regions. The aim is to study, document and rehabilitate the historic areas around the historic castle.

Sharif Fathi, Minister of Tourism and Archeology of Egypt, says that these discoveries represent a quality addition to the understanding of the urban and functional structure of the Citadel area through Islamic times.

He emphasizes that the objective of the task force is to preserve Egyptian civil heritage and highlight the historical value of Cairo, stressing that the new discoveries contribute to enriching knowledge of the history of the Old City and support plans to develop archaeologists.

Hydraulic system
In the Arab al-Yasar area, one of the most important water supply systems for the castle was found, where excavations resulted in the discovery of two huge wells for storing and lifting water, each connected to a system of conductors to lift water from the lower to the upper levels.

The depth of the first well is about 10 meters, while the depth of the second reaches eight meters. Excavation work is still ongoing inside them to reach the lower storage tanks, according to the Egyptian ministry.

The wells were constructed using huge blocks of stone, covered by the remains of an integrated system of four rotating inlets and a network of stone sewers that carried water to the castle, in a direct extension of the drainage system.

Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Archaeology, Hisham Alithi, added that a number of architectural and service elements associated with the functioning of this system were also discovered, among them animal movement tracks used in the management of conduits, housing rooms, feed storage and animal watering tanks, thanks to several stone floors that reflect an advanced level of engineering and water management during the Mamluk era.

According to Archeology News magazine, the structures appear to be directly connected to Cairo's famous aqueduct, known as Sur Magra al-Oyoun, which carried water throughout much of the city.

Unique mosque and artifacts
Remains of a mosque have also been identified in the al-Hattaba area. A burial chamber linked to the mosque was also unearthed, along with a collection of tombs dating back to various Islamic periods and containing bones, thanks to a tomb likely dating to the early Islamic Era, contributing to a deeper understanding of the region's history.

The expedition also found a distinctive collection of artifacts, among them ceramic ladders used to raise water and coins dating back to the Mamluk and Ottoman eras, thanks to a range of tools related to daily life during the 18th and 19th centuries, including ornaments, metal seals, coins and weapon remains.

Pierre Talais, director of the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology, highlighted that more prominent archaeological evidence has been found of the evolution of infrastructure and water management systems in Cairo, reflecting an advanced level of urban planning and engineering that the city witnessed during Islamic times.

The director of the mission, Mohammed Ibrahim, states that preliminary archaeological and architectural studies suggest that some of these installations date back to the works of Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun, as excavations during the current season have revealed a new water channel going west towards the sultan's stables, which could contribute to the reestablishment of a number of important architectural installations in the vicinity of the castle.

The French institute informs that architectural and photographic documentation work is carried out at the highest levels of precision, together with the digitization of all archaeological discoveries, with the creation of a database with the results of excavations and historical information related to Salah al-Din Ayubi Castle and its surroundings, following the latest scientific systems in documentation and management of cultural heritage.

Source: CNN