Der Abu Ballas-Weg: Eine Pharaonische Karawanenroute Durch Die Libysche Wuste

The thesis presents the finds and features of a Pharaonic caravan route, only discovered in 1999, which leads from the Dakhla Oasis in Egypt deep into the Libyan Desert, and therefore brings this area into the focus of Egyptological research for the first time. The route, well-signposted by stone markers and partially well-preserved donkey tracks, is mainly characterized by several supply stations consisting of large deposits of storage jars, most of which contained water. Without the most logistically demanding creation of such chains of artificial "filling stations" it would have been impossible to conduct large-scale caravan traffic across hundreds of kilometers through barren desert regions in a time when no camels, but only donkeys were available. Based on archaeological investigations carried out within the scope of the Collaborative Research Center 389 ACACIA at Cologne, the finds and features are thoroughly analyzed (part I of the thesis), followed by studies on the practical use of the trail (part II), and on the possible purpose and historical significance of the caravan route (part III). As the main result it turned out that the so-called Abu Ballas Trail was an extremely difficult Pharaonic caravan route through the Libyan Desert that was used over many centuries, and repeatedly took a greater significance under very specific geopolitical circumstances. It appears to have served, at least temporarily from the late third millennium BC onwards, as a trade route in order to import luxury items - such as incense, ivory, skins of exotic animals, valuable oils, and others from sub-Saharan regions first to Dakhla and then further on to the Egyptian Nile Valley, probably in cooperation with "Libyan" nomadic groups. The route therefore represents the earliest evidence of trans-Saharan trade currently known. Its existence proves that the known world of the ancient Egyptians did not end beyond the oases of the Western Desert. This fact therefore demands a broadening of the Egyptological scope of view at least up to the point where the modern borders of Libya, Egypt, and Sudan converge. Pharaonic contacts to inner Africa, both cultural and commercial, and their impact and significance to both sides will have to be reevaluated. The same holds true for the extent of the ancient Egyptians' capabilities, both in terms of organization and logistics, to render such contact possible, without camels, The work presents finds and features of a pharaonic caravan route discovered only in 1999, which leads from the Egyptian oasis of Dakhla far to the south-west into the Libyan desert and thus places this area in the focus of Egyptological research for the first time. The route, which is well "signposted" by stone signposts and sometimes even by donkey paths preserved in the desert soil, is characterized above all by a number of supply stations in the form of extensive deposits of clay vessels, which mainly contained water. At a time when only donkeys and no camels were available, it would have been impossible to have larger caravans overcome several 100 km through hyperarid desert regions without the logistically extremely complex construction of such chains of artificial "gas stations". On the basis of archaeological investigations as part of the Cologne SFB 389 ACACIA, the finds and findings are first subjected to a thorough analysis (Part I of the work), which is followed by further studies on the one hand on practical use (Part II) and on the other hand on the possible function and cultural-historical significance of the caravan route ( part III). The main result was that the so-called Abu Ballas route was an extreme route through the Libyan desert that had been used for many centuries in pharaonic times, and which was apparently repeatedly of greater importance under very specific geopolitical circumstances. At least temporarily it should be from the late 3rd millennium BC. served as a trade route through which sub-Saharan luxuries such as incense, ivory, skins of exotic animals, valuable oils and the like were imported into the Egyptian Nile Valley via Dakhla, presumably in cooperation with "Libyan" nomadic groups. It thus represents the oldest evidence to date of trans-Saharan trade. The existence of the caravan route proves that the world known to the ancient Egyptians in no way ended beyond the oases of the western desert, and thus forces an extension of the Egyptological horizon at least to a point where the modern borders of Libya, Egypt and Sudan meet. Pharaonic cultural and trade contacts in the interior of Africa and their impact and importance on both sides will have to be reconsidered, as will the extent of the organizational and logistical skills of the Egyptians.