New Discoveries at Wadi al-Jarf

Two women peering at tableware in the Resetting The Table exhibit

February 12, 2018
Gregory Marouard, Research Associate in Egyptian Archaeology Oriental Institute, University of Chicago

Located along the Egyptian coast of the Red Sea, Wadi al-Jarf is considered the oldest known harbor in the world. This exceptional 4,600-year-old site dates to the beginning of the Fourth Dynasty, the “golden age” of ancient Egypt. Gregory Marouard will discuss recent archaeological excavations at Wadi al-Jarf, including the discovery of hundreds of papyrus fragments that provide important details about the construction of the Great Pyramid at Giza and insights into the complex organization and well-structured logistics of royal Egyptian projects.