Gebel el-Silsila

Friends of Silsila

Gebel el-Silsila was home to the people who built ancient Egypt.

Second in size only to the site of the Giza Pyramids

Once the world’s largest sandstone quarry

12 square miles and 10,000 years of human activity.

Friends of Silsila Association

Your support is vital

Help to cover the daily costs of the archaeological excavations, conservation and preservation.

the world’s largest sandstone quarry

A brief history of the site of Gebel el-Silsila

Photograph by Anders Andersson

Known to the ancients as Kheny, the ancient site of Gebel el-Silsila features ancient Egypt’s largest series of sandstone quarries and a quarryscape that covers c. 30 km² (11.5 mi²) stretching out on both sides of the Nile.

Gebel el-Silsila was once the world’s largest sandstone quarry from which the ancients extracted stone to build the renowned temples of Karnak, Luxor, Ramesseum, Edfu and Dendera, to mention but a few. Thirty-two cenotaphs and the so called Speos of Horemheb are located along the Nile shore on the west bank, in addition to which the site contains dozens of stelae, commemorating chapels and a series of tombs.

Even more stelae are found on the east bank, along with various sandstone workshops. The quarries and cliffs are preserved with a great variety of graffiti ranging from prehistoric pictographs, hieroglyphic, hieratic, demotic, Greek and Coptic inscriptions to figurative representations dating from Old Kingdom and throughout all subsequent ancient periods.

Uniquely, the site contains Egypt’s largest collection of quarry marks. Except for the minor excavations carried out by G. Legrain and A. Sayce in the late 19th and early 20th century Gebel el-Silsila has never been properly excavated. As a consequence, all archaeological reference to the site is limited to material visible on the surface.

It was made the responsibility of Egypt Exploration Society to survey Gebel el-Silsila by R. A. Caminos and T. G. H. James in 1955. However, their work resulted in only one monograph. Until the Swedish mission began its work in 2012, no full archaeological study had been made at Gebel el-Silsila.

about us

What is the Friends of Silsila Association?

Friends of Silsila was set up by Swedish Egyptologist Dr Maria Nilsson and her British archaeologist husband John Ward. They are familiar faces having appeared on many National Geographic and Travel Channel documentaries.

Second in size only to the site of the Giza Pyramids, Gebel el-Silsila spans 12 square miles and 10,000 years of human activity. Together Maria and John lead an international team of more than 100 people. Each dig season they are joined on site by their young children Freja and Jonathan.

Gebel el-Silsila was home to the people who built ancient Egypt. Through their ongoing work they hope to answer the questions about what happened to the people who lived, worked and died there. But this unique site requires immediate action as the risk of collapse and complete erosion is imminent due to water damage of the sandstone structures.

To cover the daily costs of the archaeological excavations, conservation and preservation, they’ve set up the Friends of Silsila Association and any support no matter how small will make a huge difference to the project, the site and to the local community by supporting employment.

the project

What is the Gebel el-Silsila Survey Project?

The Gebel el Silsila Archaeological Project was established in 2012 by Dr Maria Nilsson and John Ward of Lund University, with the kind permission of the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities. The project seeks to document and preserve the archaeological evidence contained within this 30km² site.

The project is concerned with the conservation of the archaeological sites, including the preservation of quarries, inscriptions, and monuments. The harsh desert environment poses significant challenges to the conservation of stone structures, and the project works to mitigate the effects of weathering and looting. The Gebel el-Silsila Archaeological Survey Project engages local communities and the broader public through educational outreach and the dissemination of findings, offering a deeper understanding of Egypt’s ancient industrial activities and their cultural significance.

The Gebel el-Silsila quarries were in active use from the New Kingdom period (c. 1550–1070 BCE) through to Roman times, with the site yielding important evidence of quarrying methods, transport systems, and the labor force involved.

The project aims to explore the methods used by ancient Egyptians to extract and transport the large sandstone blocks, which involved sophisticated tools and techniques. Quarry marks, inscriptions, and unfinished stone blocks help provide insights into these practices. The survey also focuses on identifying the remains of workers’ settlements, which can offer clues about the lives of laborers, who were likely seasonal workers, as well as the organization of the workforce. This includes investigating workers’ camps, residential structures, and related infrastructure. Inscriptions and reliefs found in the quarries reveal that the area had religious significance, with temples and shrines dedicated to local deities. The project examines the role of religious and administrative activities in the quarrying process, highlighting how quarrying and worship were intertwined.

Overall, the project contributes greatly to the broader understanding of ancient Egyptian quarrying practices and the socio-economic and cultural context in which they occurred, shedding light on the complexities of labor, technology, and administration in the ancient world.

Photographs by Anders Andersson

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Article series in Ancient Egypt Magazine

Gebel el-Silsila through the Ages Over the past couple of years, we have been writing shorter archaeological (popular scientific) papers for Ancient Egypt Magazine, discussing the history of the Gebel el-Silsila area, our fieldwork, and some more detailed views on...

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Eight years ago, Ahmed brought to us in our home in Luxor the most adorable little white fluff ball, a pup who was given the mighty name of Carter. He immediately became a beloved family member, but also a most welcome protector and companion while exploring the great...

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