Archaeology

There is evidence that communities of hunter/gatherers lived in and around Sinai from the Lower Palaeolithic period, at least 300,000 years ago, until the Neolithic, about 8000 B.C. Agriculture was developed in the region between 15,000 and 4000 B.C. This was developed further during the Chalcolithic period (4000 to 3100 B.C.) with increased domestication of plants and livestock. The people lived largely in caves and copper mines were exploited at this time.

During the Early Bronze Age (3100 to 2200 B.C.), stone and wood houses were built. Substantial human activity seemed to have ceased in the region until the Iron Age (1,200 B.C.). From this time until the end of the Byzantine period (A.D. 640) human settlement was revitalized; the Nabataeans used sophisticated rainwater harvesting techniques to irrigate lands and nomadic grazing increased.

Although migration by Arabs into the Nile Valley and to a lesser extent the Sinai was limited prior to the Islamic conquest of A.D. 640, there is evidence of inhabitation in the Sinai during the early Christian era. This occurred when powerful southern Arabian tribes, fleeing drought, pushed Ishmaelite camel nomads of north-western Arabia into the Sinai Peninsula. A steep decline in population occurred after the Arab conquest of A.D. 640.

Until the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Sinai was dominated by nomadic populations of mixed descent, many of whom had migrated from the Arabian Peninsula. The last major influx of Bedouin into Sinai was that caused by the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. At that time, most of the Bedouin from the bordering Negev Desert moved into Sinai although some went to neighboring areas in Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

As the bridge between Africa and Asia this area has been crossed countless times by traders, pilgrims, soldiers and migrants. As a result, there are more than 300 significant archaeological sites in the protectorate.

Hajar Musa (Rock of Moses) in Wadi El Arbain: This is the place prophet Moses fetched water from the rock and is a holy place for the three monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Locals believe the twelve clefts on it represent the twelve springs mentioned in the Quran (Sura 2:60). It is also mentioned in the Exodus as the rock which sustained the children of Israel (1 Cor. 10:4). There is a small Orthodox chapel next to it. A Bedouin marriage proposal rock is found in the walled compound.

Wadi Feiran Monastery: With its chapel dedicated to the prophet Moses, this monastery is approximately 60 km from St. Katherine City. The wadi is mentioned in Genesis (21:21) as "the place where Hagar dwelt with her son after Abraham sent her away.” As late as the 7^th century, Feiran was a city and an important Christian center with its own bishop.

The Chapel of St. Katherine: This chapel is on the summit of Gebel Katherine, the mountain where the body of the saint from Alexandria was placed by angels, according to Christian beliefs. The saint, born as Dorothea in 294 AD, was educated in pagan schools but converted to Christianity for which she was executed. Her body vanished, but some three centuries later, monks guided by a dream found it on the mountain. It was brought down and placed in a golden casket in the monastery which became known in the 11^th century as the Monastery of St. Katherine.

The Monastery of the Forty Martyrs: Located in Wadi El Arbain this monastery was constructed in the sixth century in honor of the forty Christian martyrs who died in Sebaste (central Turkey). Monks relate that forty Christian soldiers from the Roman Army in the third century were commanded to worship pagan gods. They refused and were put to death by being exposed at night to the bitter cold winds off a frozen lake. Those who survived until morning were killed by the sword.

The Monastery of Cosmas and Damianos: Located in Wadi Talaa, this monastery was named after the martyred brothers who were doctors and treated locals for free in the 3^rd century AD. The garden of the monastery has a long olive grove, some tall cypress trees, fruit trees and vegetables. More gardens belonging to the monastery can be found further down in the wadi.

El Tur Monastery: El Tur was an important port and a center of Christianity from the 3^rd century AD. Built by Emperor Justinian, the original monastery today lies in ruins but there is a new monastery in the city, as well as a church and a guest house. The Spring of Moses there is reputed for its therapeutic value.
Other important monasteries: Also in the region are the Monastery of Ramhan south of Mount St. Katherine, the Monastery of Hodra and several smaller, ruined monasteries and churches. Most of the best preserved places are found close to the St. Katherine City in Wadi Shrayj, Wadi Anshel, Bustan El Birka, Wadi Abu Zaituna, as well as in the high mountains such as at Ain Nagila and in Wadi Gebel.

Byzantine Ruins: There are hundreds of ruins of Byzantine monasteries, churches and monastic settlements in the area, some of them not much more than a pile of rocks, others difficult to distinguish from Bedouin buildings, but there are several very well preserved ones. Many can be found in the wide and open Bustan El Birka area, approachable from the settlement of Abu Seila or Abu Zaituna. These include churches, houses on hills overlooking gardens in the wadi floor, buildings in clusters and hermit cells under rocks.

Byzantine Nawamises, burial places with rocks placed around in circles, are found at many locations, such as at the beginning of Wadi Gebel or in Wadi Mathar. Halfway through Wadi Gebel there is a Roman well before you reach a well preserved Byzantine church next to a walled garden and spring. There is another church at the spring of Ain Nagila, at the foot of Gebel El Bab. You can find ruins of other settlements and buildings in many other places such as Wadi Tinya, Wadi Shag Tinya and Farsh Abu Mahashur.

Palace of Abbas Hilmi I Pasha: One of the prime historical attractions in the area is this palace built by Abbas Helmi, Viceroy of Egypt from 1849 - 1854. The palace was never finished as he died before it was completed, but the massive 2 meter-thick walls made of granite blocks and granite-sand bricks still stand firmly. The open quarry on the top of Gebel Somra, just opposite Gebel Abbas Basha, is still visible.