Ain al-Tarakwa

Ain al-Tarakwa is located on the road to Umm al-Dabadib which led to the Darb Ain Amur. The site was completely unknown until 1949 when it was revealed by a sandstorm. The site has not been excavated so it remains fairly unknown, but the pottery on the site dates to the late Roman period (3rd and 4th centuries). On the site is a sandstone temple with a tripartite sanctuary and a large cella. The temple is unexcavated, but decorations indicate it is dedicated to Amun-Re. The temple is surrounded by a mudbrick enclosure wall. Unfortunately, the northern wall was destroyed by a front loader in recent times, when some blocks from the temple were also removed. Within the enclosure wall are the remains of a mudbrick church. In addition to the temple, there are traces of mudbrick walls, vaults and lintels visible in the sand both within and without the enclosure. There is also a large cemetery located to the south, with vaulted mudbrick tombs, most of which have collapsed. They contain burials from both the Roman and the Coptic periods. In the same area are two large wells (CISS Inventory 2010; Vivian 1990).