The Early Imperial fortress of Berkou, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Abstract In 2020, during excavations in the Wadi al-Ghozza Eastern Desert of Egypt, archaeologists from French Archaeological Mission to Egypt discovered a well-preserved Flavian praesidium. This small and unusually shaped fort, identified ostraca found fortress as Berkou (Βɛρκου), lay along track leading ancient Kaine (Qena) imperial quarries at Porphyrites. The fort over remains Ptolemaic village incorporated elements water system older settlement. article presents results those excavations, including an overview fort's architecture associated finds, well discussion its role regional transportation security network that supported Roman exploitation nearby porphyry 1st c. CE.