El-Gendi Fortress: a new military and religious geo-archaeological site, Sinai, Egypt: geomorphological and hydrogeological remarks
Abstract El-Gendi Fortress is a unique geo-archaeological site in Sinai, Egypt. It reflects the progress of the Islamic military architecture during Saladin’s reign (Salah ad-din al Ayyubi), the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty (1174-1260AD). The fortress's location met two major geo-criteria. On...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SpringerOpen
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | Heritage Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-022-00846-8 |
| _version_ | 1797958536909553664 |
|---|---|
| author | Hesham M. El-Asmar Tamer H. El-Eraky Maysa M. N. Taha |
| author_facet | Hesham M. El-Asmar Tamer H. El-Eraky Maysa M. N. Taha |
| author_sort | Hesham M. El-Asmar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract El-Gendi Fortress is a unique geo-archaeological site in Sinai, Egypt. It reflects the progress of the Islamic military architecture during Saladin’s reign (Salah ad-din al Ayyubi), the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty (1174-1260AD). The fortress's location met two major geo-criteria. One is geographical; it is located on a mound 655 m above sea level (a.s.l) and 152 m above El-Tih El-plateau; this elevation contributes to the exploration of the surrounding areas and provides the fortress with a strong defensive position against the Crusaders' invasions of Egypt (1163–1169 AD). The second is Hydro-geological; it provides exceptional access to both meteoric surface (via barrages) and groundwater (through Sudr spring). The latter is from deep aquifers of the Nubian sandstones (Malha Formation) across the fractured carbonates (Raha and Sudr Formations of Cenomanian to Maastrichtian age). Such water was accumulated since the Pleistocene pluvial age until the fortress’ most recent use. The barrages’ location upstream of a sub-basin “a” at Wadi Sudr, in a similar direction to the deep ditch side, confirms that the priority of their design is to protect the region from flash flood risks and to store water on a relatively flat-lying land. The study reveals that the fortress’ geographical location is used to safeguard the Hajj route in central Sinai and to provide facilities for pilgrims’ caravans when they travel from North Africa to Mecca. The study concludes that the fortress should be a part of the Sinai tourism itinerary and promoted globally as a geo-archaeological site for Geo-tourism. In addition, the government should implement a strategy for conserving, rehabilitating, and managing the heritage sites, to improve facilities and increase public awareness of these sites to maximize the outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T00:20:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-13b0f11b791c480fa79c7a4a9f2a0ccc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-7445 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T00:20:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heritage Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-13b0f11b791c480fa79c7a4a9f2a0ccc2023-01-08T12:18:05ZengSpringerOpenHeritage Science2050-74452023-01-0111112010.1186/s40494-022-00846-8El-Gendi Fortress: a new military and religious geo-archaeological site, Sinai, Egypt: geomorphological and hydrogeological remarksHesham M. El-Asmar0Tamer H. El-Eraky1Maysa M. N. Taha2Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Damietta UniversityResearcher in Archaeology and PetroglyphsDepartment of Geology, Faculty of Science, Helwan UniversityAbstract El-Gendi Fortress is a unique geo-archaeological site in Sinai, Egypt. It reflects the progress of the Islamic military architecture during Saladin’s reign (Salah ad-din al Ayyubi), the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty (1174-1260AD). The fortress's location met two major geo-criteria. One is geographical; it is located on a mound 655 m above sea level (a.s.l) and 152 m above El-Tih El-plateau; this elevation contributes to the exploration of the surrounding areas and provides the fortress with a strong defensive position against the Crusaders' invasions of Egypt (1163–1169 AD). The second is Hydro-geological; it provides exceptional access to both meteoric surface (via barrages) and groundwater (through Sudr spring). The latter is from deep aquifers of the Nubian sandstones (Malha Formation) across the fractured carbonates (Raha and Sudr Formations of Cenomanian to Maastrichtian age). Such water was accumulated since the Pleistocene pluvial age until the fortress’ most recent use. The barrages’ location upstream of a sub-basin “a” at Wadi Sudr, in a similar direction to the deep ditch side, confirms that the priority of their design is to protect the region from flash flood risks and to store water on a relatively flat-lying land. The study reveals that the fortress’ geographical location is used to safeguard the Hajj route in central Sinai and to provide facilities for pilgrims’ caravans when they travel from North Africa to Mecca. The study concludes that the fortress should be a part of the Sinai tourism itinerary and promoted globally as a geo-archaeological site for Geo-tourism. In addition, the government should implement a strategy for conserving, rehabilitating, and managing the heritage sites, to improve facilities and increase public awareness of these sites to maximize the outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-022-00846-8El-Gendi FortressGeo-archaeological siteIslamic ArchitectureSudr SpringReligiousFlash floods |
| spellingShingle | Hesham M. El-Asmar Tamer H. El-Eraky Maysa M. N. Taha El-Gendi Fortress: a new military and religious geo-archaeological site, Sinai, Egypt: geomorphological and hydrogeological remarks Heritage Science El-Gendi Fortress Geo-archaeological site Islamic Architecture Sudr Spring Religious Flash floods |
| title | El-Gendi Fortress: a new military and religious geo-archaeological site, Sinai, Egypt: geomorphological and hydrogeological remarks |
| title_full | El-Gendi Fortress: a new military and religious geo-archaeological site, Sinai, Egypt: geomorphological and hydrogeological remarks |
| title_fullStr | El-Gendi Fortress: a new military and religious geo-archaeological site, Sinai, Egypt: geomorphological and hydrogeological remarks |
| title_full_unstemmed | El-Gendi Fortress: a new military and religious geo-archaeological site, Sinai, Egypt: geomorphological and hydrogeological remarks |
| title_short | El-Gendi Fortress: a new military and religious geo-archaeological site, Sinai, Egypt: geomorphological and hydrogeological remarks |
| title_sort | el gendi fortress a new military and religious geo archaeological site sinai egypt geomorphological and hydrogeological remarks |
| topic | El-Gendi Fortress Geo-archaeological site Islamic Architecture Sudr Spring Religious Flash floods |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-022-00846-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT heshammelasmar elgendifortressanewmilitaryandreligiousgeoarchaeologicalsitesinaiegyptgeomorphologicalandhydrogeologicalremarks AT tamerheleraky elgendifortressanewmilitaryandreligiousgeoarchaeologicalsitesinaiegyptgeomorphologicalandhydrogeologicalremarks AT maysamntaha elgendifortressanewmilitaryandreligiousgeoarchaeologicalsitesinaiegyptgeomorphologicalandhydrogeologicalremarks |