In 2021, during a systematic survey conducted by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in cooperation with the Saqqara Archaeological Research Project (SARP), researchers uncovered an unusual cylindrical stone fragment embedded near the foundation of a Middle Kingdom structure. Found on the southeastern side of the Saqqara necropolis—approximately 30 kilometers south of modern Cairo—the artifact was recovered from a partially collapsed wall within a corridor leading toward an administrative annex. The excavation team, led by Dr. Mahmoud al-Sharif and supported by a multidisciplinary group of Egyptologists and geologists, documented the object in situ before removing debris. Preliminary stratigraphic analysis suggests the stone belongs to a construction phase dated between 1900–1750 BCE, during the late 12th or early 13th Dynasty.
The artifact is carved from a fine-grained nummulitic limestone, characteristic of quarries west of the Nile valley. Petrographic thin-section analysis reveals densely packed microfossils—particularly nummulites—that were commonly exploited by ancient Egyptian builders for their durability and workable texture. Although limestone was widely used across Egypt, the cylindrical shape and unusual incised grooves distinguish this fragment from standard architectural blocks. The surface shows natural weathering combined with tool-induced abrasions, indicating that the stone was shaped, installed, damaged, and later abandoned or repurposed within the architectural complex.
Measuring approximately 1.2 meters in length and 0.6 meters in diameter, the cylinder displays four parallel, deliberately carved grooves running longitudinally across its surface. Microscopic inspection suggests the grooves were made using copper or bronze chisels with stone abrasives, producing uniform linear cuts typical of Middle Kingdom masonry techniques. The rounded form implies it once served as part of a column drum or architectural roller, yet the precision of the grooves has led specialists to propose additional functions. Uneven fracturing along the lower left quadrant points to structural stress or intentional removal during later modifications of the building. The ends are roughly flattened, hinting that the object was integrated horizontally rather than vertically.
While some researchers interpret the stone as a misfired column drum, others emphasize the grooves as evidence of a more specialized purpose. One hypothesis posits that the object served as a roller-stone, used to maneuver heavy architectural elements during construction. The grooves would then represent guiding channels or stabilization tracks for ropes. Another theory argues that it functioned as part of a mechanical water-lifting system, possibly a precursor to later shadoof-like devices, though evidence for this remains limited. A third possibility proposes ritual significance: the grooves may have symbolized ordered divisions or served as markers within a ceremonial or administrative workshop area. Regardless of its exact function, the artifact highlights the ingenuity and technical adaptability of Middle Kingdom engineers.
The discovery was made by the Saqqara Archaeological Research Project, directed by Dr. Mahmoud al-Sharif with international collaboration from the University of Leiden and the French Insтιтute for Oriental Archaeology (IFAO). Digital pH๏τogrammetry, 3D modeling, and ongoing material analysis continue to refine interpretations of the object. As excavation proceeds deeper into the adjoining chambers and pᴀssageways, archaeologists hope to determine whether the cylindrical fragment belonged to a broader set of mechanical tools or architectural components. Its presence within a transitional corridor suggests it may have been intentionally stored, repurposed, or discarded during a later reconstruction phase. The research team expects further discoveries that will contextualize this enigmatic artifact within the broader technological landscape of Middle Kingdom Egypt.
