Egypt Daily News – The Jordanian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Lina Annab, announced on Saturday, in the presence of Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass, the discovery of the first “Pharaonic royal hieroglyphic inscription” in the Kingdom. The inscription dates back to the Pharaonic king Ramses III (1186-1155 BC) and is located in the Wadi Rum Protected Area in the southern part of the country.
The announcement came during a press conference held by Minister Annab, alongside Hawass, coinciding with the celebration of World Heritage Day, which is observed annually on April 18. The minister signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities and Heritage to exchange expertise and enhance efforts to protect human heritage.
The inscription was discovered by Saudi visitor Mardhi Jilbakh on one of the rocky mountains.
The new inscription was found as part of an academic collaboration between the Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Saudi Heritage Authority. Saudi researcher Mardhi Jilbakh announced the discovery on social media in August of last year, located near the Jordanian-Saudi border, south of Wadi Rum.
Hawass, in statements to international media after the conference, said that this archaeological inscription is very important due to its two royal seals (cartouches) bearing the name of the Pharaoh Ramses III. The first seal includes his birth name, while the second seal bears the name of his “throne.” He added, “Here he declares himself the king of Upper and Lower Egypt.”
Hawass explained that finding Ramses III’s name means “we must conduct organized excavations at this site, which may lead to the discovery of other important artifacts, revealing the historical relations between Jordan and Egypt over 3,000 years ago. This discovery imposes a responsibility on us, and it will be very beautiful to carry out these excavations with archaeologists in Jordan.” He noted that Ramses III was the last of the warrior Pharaohs.
Hawass is one of the most prominent Egyptian archaeologists and called for the establishment of a national archaeology museum in Jordan with advanced exhibition methods, similar to the Grand Egyptian Museum.
In a comment regarding the most anticipated archaeological discoveries in Egypt this year, Hawass said they would be related to the discovery of “secrets of the Great Pyramid,” and it may be broadcast live.
Hawass reiterated his denial of claims regarding the discovery of columns beneath the Khafre Pyramid, stating that “what was announced by the Italians is baseless and has no scientific credibility, as they did not obtain permission for excavations. The base of the second pyramid of King Khafre is made of rock and is 8 meters deep,” adding that what was discussed could only be described as “delusion.”
During his visit to the Kingdom, Hawass participated in several field tours, including the Regional Conservation Center in the ancient city of Jerash in the north of the country, the Citadel site in the capital Amman, and also participated in excavation work at the “Ayla” site in Aqaba.
The Jordanian Minister of Tourism stated that the Pharaonic inscription is yet another testament to the deep cultural accumulation in Jordan, pointing out that the country has a rich heritage of inscriptions and that this inscription “represents a very important addition to the topic of written heritage in Jordan.”
Researchers on the Jordanian discovery team, Ali Al-Mansour from the Hashemite University and Ahmad Lush from the Jordanian Department of Antiquities, spoke about the significance of the inscription in the rocky mountains of Wadi Rum and confirmed that it is the first of its kind in the kingdom.
The researchers also noted that the preliminary analysis of the inscription suggests that King Ramses III may have led the campaign himself or participated in it directly or symbolically, which was launched against the southern Levant and the Arabian Peninsula to control the ancient trade routes and areas of copper and natural mineral deposits during the late Bronze Age.
