Mons Claudianus, Roman quarry and archaeological site in Upper Egypt, Egypt
Mons Claudianus is a Roman granite quarry situated on a mountain in Egypt's desert, with residential structures, fortified compounds, and extraction areas distributed along the slopes. The layout reveals infrastructure for housing, administration, and provisioning a substantial workforce.
The Romans operated this quarry between the 1st and 3rd century AD, extracting white granite for temples, palaces, and public buildings across their empire. Production ceased when demand for this material declined.
Worker names appear on broken pottery pieces scattered across the site, telling us how people organized their lives here. These inscriptions show a structured daily routine with food rations and regular wages for labor.
The site is isolated in the desert and reachable only by private transportation or organized tours from Qena or Hurghada. A knowledgeable guide is essential for safely navigating the terrain and interpreting the archaeological features.
Workers received surprisingly high wages to offset the extreme conditions of working at high altitude in harsh desert heat. All food and supplies had to be transported by camel caravan across vast distances, revealing the logistical challenge of operating in such a remote location.
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