Archaeologists uncover fortified settlement in Egypt's Ismailia province

Archaeologists excavating the Tell Abu Saifi site in Egypt's Ismailia province have uncovered a fortified settlement believed to be the legendary city of Mesen. The identification is supported by the discovery of a monumental sandstone lintel from the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II, indicating that the site served as a critical defensive outpost on Egypt's eastern border and a key node in the ancient communications network known as the Way of Horus. The excavation team, led by Hisham Hussein, recovered a massive sandstone lintel split into two sections. Hieroglyphs on three sides of the stone praise Ramesses II and mention the restoration of the cult of the deity Horus, the patron of the city of Mesen. This epigraphic evidence links the physical site to New Kingdom written records. In addition to the lintel, researchers unearthed a statue of an army scribe from the 26th Dynasty, a basalt torso of a royal statue, and fragments of falcon sculptures. These artifacts suggest the settlement functioned as both a military fortification and a religious center.