GEBEL AL-SILSILA

Gebel al-Silsila is a mountainous region with sandstone quarries on both sides of the Nile.

The sandstone quarries of Gebel al-Silsila have been used from the Middle Kingdom (c. 2034–1650 BC) until the 20^th century. More than a hundred quarries were exploited to extract the sandstone blocks needed to construct many of ancient Egypt’s famous temples.

The quarries have preserved tool marks and workers’ inscriptions that can be seen today. The close up picture below is the quarry wall covered in spider webs!!!