We may be able to visit depending on whether excavations are underway. An abundance of petroglyphs and inscriptions from the late Eleventh Dynasty (1700 BC) can be seen in this rarely visited wadi (valley), which is north of Gebel el Silsila. Why they are at this remote site has been debated and continues to intrigue researchers. In addition to the well-known reliefs of Mentuhotep II and Mentuhotep III, researchers have documented more than 800 inscriptions and rock-drawings.
The wadi consists of two stone cliffs with fine, yellow sand in the middle; it is a good example of an Egyptian desert valley. The wadi was formed millions of years ago when rain was common in Egypt and was one of the Nile’s tributaries; as a result, the people who lived here in prehistory left many traces.
For more information about this area, we suggest the book “The Wadi Shatt el-Rigal” by Ricardo A. Caminos and Jürgen Osing.
