“This is a landmark discovery that enhances our understanding of ancient connections between Egypt, Jordan, and the Arabian Peninsula.”
Archaeologists found a hieroglyphic inscription bearing Ramses III’s cartouches carved into a rock face in Wadi Rum, near Jordan’s border with Saudi Arabia. It marks the first evidence of Egyptian royal presence in the region. Ramses III ruled from 1186 to 1155 BC during upheaval across the Eastern Mediterranean, successfully defending Egypt against the mysterious Sea Peoples. Wadi Rum sat along trade routes carrying copper, frankincense, and spices. Similar cartouches have been found at Tayma in Saudi Arabia and along the Egyptian-Israeli border.