Application of geospatial analyses for the identification of the favored long-distance routes between Egypt and Punt in pharaonic times.

Abstract

Punt, the fabulous land of the gods, was known to the Egyptians since the Predynastic period. The precious resources from Punt were essential to perform religious rituals and the pharaohs had to insure their continued availability to perform said rituals and thus keep the cosmic order. Maintaining the cosmic order would grant pharaohs the right to rule over Egypt. While during the Predynastic Period, trade with Punt occurred through middlemen in the Old Kingdom a maritime route was opened and the pharaohs organized direct commercial expeditions to Punt. Queen Hatshepsut told about Punt and her inhabitants in the reliefs of her temple at Deir el-Bahari. She undertook a commercial expedition to the land of Punt to collect precious materials to carry back to Egypt. Archaeological investigation has suggested that Punt included modern Eastern Africa, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Somalia. However, the information regarding the route(s) to Punt, how to get there, and the organization of expeditions to Punt is scarce and incomplete. This study presents an innovative methodology involving spatial analyses (using ArcGIS Pro, and MATLAB) to identify such long-distance trade routes. The calculations are based on geomorphology, information extracted from ancient texts and colonial reports, and nutritional studies. Among the identified routes one was elected as the most advantageous and efficient one, in terms of time and effort, connecting Memphis (modern Cairo, ancient capital of Egypt) and Eastern Sudan (part of Punt). The route has an initial land component, crossing the Eastern Desert from Memphis to the Red Sea, then a maritime element, implying sailing along the Red Sea coast, and finally walking a trek across the landscape of Eastern Sudan/Eritrea (from the coast to the inland of Eastern Sudan).