A joint Egyptian-French archaeological mission from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities and the French Institute for Oriental Archaeology (IFAO) has uncovered an integrated Mamluk-era water system in the Arab al-Yasar area, along with the remains of a Mamluk mosque in the Al-Hattaba district, both located in the vicinity of the Citadel of Saladin in Cairo.
The discoveries were made as part of a joint scientific project being conducted in two key areas surrounding the Citadel, Arab al-Yasar and Al-Hattaba, within a broader program aimed at studying, documenting, and rehabilitating the historic districts around the Citadel of Saladin.
Sherif Fathy, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, stated that these discoveries represent a significant contribution to understanding the urban and functional development of the Citadel area throughout the Islamic periods. He noted that they reaffirm the site’s strategic and cultural importance as the center of governance and administration in Egypt for many centuries.
He added that the discoveries align with the ministry’s efforts to preserve Egypt’s cultural heritage and highlight the historical significance of Historic Cairo. The new findings, he said, enrich knowledge of the city’s ancient past and support plans to develop archaeological sites and integrate them into Cairo’s cultural tourism routes.
Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that excavations in Arab al-Yasar revealed a complete Mamluk-era hydraulic system that served as one of the Citadel’s most important water supply networks. Archaeologists uncovered two massive wells used for water storage and lifting, each connected to a system of waterwheels that raised water from lower to higher levels.
The first well reaches a depth of approximately 10 meters, while the second extends about 8 meters deep. Excavations are still ongoing to reach the lower storage cisterns. Both wells were constructed using massive stone blocks and are topped by the remains of an integrated waterwheel system consisting of four rotating waterwheels and a network of stone channels that carried water into the Citadel as a direct extension of the historic Aqueduct of Cairo (Sur Magra El-Oyoun).
The mission also uncovered several architectural and service-related features associated with the operation of the system, including animal pathways used to power the waterwheels, stables, fodder storage rooms, animal watering basins, and a variety of stone-paved surfaces. These findings reflect a sophisticated level of engineering planning and water management during the Mamluk period.
Dr. El-Leithy emphasized the exceptional significance of the discoveries, as they reveal for the first time details of the final section of the hydraulic system connected to the Aqueduct of Cairo, a part not documented in known historical sources. The findings open new avenues for studying the evolution and various phases of this remarkable engineering project.
In the Al-Hattaba area, Dr. Diaa Zahran, Head of the Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said excavations uncovered the remains of a Mamluk-era mosque, including the qibla iwan, mihrab, portions of the southwestern arcade, and sections of its stone flooring.
A burial chamber associated with the mosque was also discovered, alongside several graves dating to different Islamic periods containing human skeletal remains. Archaeologists further identified a tomb believed to date back to the early Islamic period, contributing to a deeper understanding of the area’s historical and urban development.
The mission also carried out comprehensive scientific documentation using the latest digital technologies, including the creation of 3D models of several archaeological structures, most notably the Nizamiyya Khanqah, where new sections of the monument were uncovered. Additional Mamluk- and Ottoman-era tombs were documented within its boundaries.
Among the artifacts recovered were ceramic water-lifting pots (qawadis), Mamluk and Ottoman coins, and a collection of objects linked to daily life during the 18th and 19th centuries, including jewelry, metal seals, coins, and weapon fragments.
Dr. Pierre Tallet, Director of the French Institute for Oriental Archaeology, described the mission as a leading example of international scientific cooperation in the field of Islamic archaeology. He noted that excavations in Historic Cairo continue to reveal new aspects of the city’s rich cultural heritage and reflect the institute’s commitment to conducting specialized Islamic archaeology missions in Cairo.
He added that the discoveries provide some of the strongest archaeological evidence to date for the development of infrastructure and water-management systems in Historic Cairo, highlighting the advanced urban planning and engineering achieved during the Islamic periods.
Dr. Abbas Zouache, Director of Studies at IFAO, stressed that the project extends beyond excavation work to include a field training school designed to train inspectors from the Supreme Council of Antiquities in the latest methods of archaeological documentation, recording, photography, and excavation. The initiative aims to strengthen professional capacities and promote the long-term sustainability of archaeological work in line with international scientific standards.
He added that the project reflects IFAO’s leading scientific role in supporting and implementing specialized archaeological research in Cairo and serves as a launchpad for future scientific projects that integrate advanced documentation technologies with archaeological research in Egypt.
Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, Assistant Professor of Islamic Archaeology at the Faculty of Archaeology, Ain Shams University, and Director of the mission, stated that the discovery is among the most important ever linked to the Aqueduct of Cairo system. Excavations have revealed for the first time the wells, waterwheels, and channels that formed the final stage of water transport to the Citadel, features previously absent from historical records.
Preliminary archaeological and architectural studies suggest that some of these structures may date to the reign of Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun. Excavations during the current season also uncovered a new water channel extending westward toward the royal stables, a finding that could help redate several important architectural structures around the Citadel.
Meanwhile, Dr. Simon Connor, scientific member of IFAO and co-director of the French mission, explained that the team is conducting architectural and photogrammetric documentation at the highest levels of precision. All archaeological finds are being digitized and incorporated into a comprehensive database containing excavation results and historical information related to the Citadel of Saladin and its surroundings, in line with the latest scientific approaches to heritage documentation and management.
The project is being carried out as part of the ongoing cooperation between Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the French Institute for Oriental Archaeology, with the participation of leading Egyptian and French archaeologists and specialists.
These results confirm that Historic Cairo continues to preserve numerous archaeological traces and hidden secrets that reveal new dimensions of its urban and cultural history, while supporting efforts to safeguard this unique human heritage for future generations.
Be Social
Comments
Leave a Comment