Papiri della IV din. scoperti a un porto del Mar Rosso (in inglese)

Dyn. 4 papyri discovered at Red Sea port

* Press release of the Ministry of State for Antiquities Affairs

"Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim, the Minister of State for Antiquities Affaires declared the discovery of one of the most ancient ports in history that date to King "Khufu" at "Wadi el- Jarf" Area, The Red Sea Shore, exactly 180 km. south Suez, Suez- Zafarana Road. 4o hieroglyphic papyri that register the Egyptian everyday life details were also discovered and most of them date to the 27th year of the reign of King Khufu.


Dr. Ibrahim declares that the port that was discovered by the Franco-Egyptian archaeological team working in the Suez Archaeological Area. This port is considered one of the most important ports in Ancient Egypt because it was used to transport copper and other minerals from Sinai to the Valley. The Minister pointed out that the mission also succeeded in discovering a group of stone anchors that were marked with ropes used to tie the ships inside the port.
The Antiquities Minister added that the discovered papyri are considered the oldest written papyri ever found in Egypt declaring the importance of the discovery of such papyri due to the information of everyday life that they reflect, it includes monthly reports that register the number of the port workers and the most important details of their lives. He also added that the papyri were transformed to the Suez Museum immediately after their discovery for study and registration.
The Director of the mission, Pierre Tallet declared that it is important to study the information in those papyri carefully because they will present plenty informations about this period. They also reflect the life of the ancient Egyptians, their rights and duties to get to know the details and nature of the ancient Egyptian life.
On the other hand, Mr. Adel Hussein, head of the Ancient Egyptian Sector said that the mission also succeeded in discovering the remains of houses for workers at that time. This expresses the commercial importance of this place whether through land or sea. 30 caves were also discovered in addition to stone blocks that were used to close those caves that carry the inscriptions of King Khufu inside a cartouch, in red ink. Finally a group of stone tools used for cutting ropes and some wooden remains and ropes were also discovered."

Photos provided by the MSAA:
http://www.egyptologyforum.org/bbs/Wadi_el-Jarf.pdf
* Some French info on Pierre Tallet and the Wadi al-Jarf port (with map and some bibliography):
http://prefixesmom.hypotheses.org/723
See notably (for free online):
P. Tallet, "Ayn Sukhna and Wadi el-Jarf : Two newly discovered
pharaonic harbours on the Suez Gulf" , British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan, n°18, 2012, p. 147-68
http://www.britishmuseum.org/PDF/Tallet.pdf
To which may be added (not for free online):
P. Tallet, "Research Report: The Wadi el-Jarf Site: A Harbor of Khufu on the Red Sea", JAEI Vol 5, No 1 (March 2013)
https://journals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/jaei/article/view/16497