Gold mining in the Eastern Desert of Egypt (Roman period)

This entry was written by Barbara Tratsaert.

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The organisation of the gold-mining industry in the Eastern Desert of Egpt at the time of the Roman occupation is a rather neglected feld of research. My aim hereinafter is to theoretically recreate how this was set up through the survey and study of rnown classical goldmining settlements, and suggest a standard layout of settlements for the gold mines in the Eastern Desert. In support of this reconstruction a study was made of 52 sites, some of which were visited. The main two sites used here are Wadi Barariya (Ptolemaic/Roman) and Wadi Daghbag (Compasi, Ptolemaic/Roman); located in the central portion of the Egptian Eastern Desert. They are very well preserved and are used as basis for the understanding of Roman industrial mining.