Five Enigmatic Late Roman Settlements in the Eastern Desert *

Abstract

The on-going survey of the Graeco-Roman remains in the Egyptian Eastern Desert constantly reveals previously unknown sites and settlements. Most can be shown to be related to either quarries, (gold) mines or the ancient road system. Some have a less evident raison d'être. Five such enigmatic settlements, all dating from the fifth to seventh centuries AD, are presented here. They show similarities in the construction method of the structures, their general layout and the absence of surface finds other than potsherds. Remarkably small numbers of graves were found associated with the buildings and only two settlements had artificial hydraulic installations nearby. The main differences among the settlements seem to be their size, ranging from 47 to 141 structures, and differences in the relative complexity of the structures. A wide variety of possible purposes for these settlements are discussed. These include placer gold extraction centres; camps for soldiers, hunters, gatherers or charcoal burners; semi-permanent Bedouin towns and early Christian monastic settlements. The current dearth of information renders it impossible to favour any of these suggestions or even to be certain that the sites ever served the same purpose.