New Archaeological Evidence for Ancient Bedouin (Shas u) on Egypt’s Eas tern Frontier at Tell el-Borg

Abstract

Excavations at the military site of Tell el-Borg, just outside of the eastern Delta has produced two New Kingdom forts that were a part of the East Frontier defense system and the military highway, the Ways of Horus. Among the discoveries at Tell el-Borg were the burnt out remains of a cluster of reed huts. This study will investigate who the occupants of these huts may have been. The pottery and C14 dates suggest that these structures were used in the 2nd Intermediate Period to early New Kingdom. It will be argued provisionally that the occupants of this little community were dessert dwellers, possibly Shasu.