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Dakhla
Oasis |
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discoveries tell us that Dakhla Oasis has been populated for over
10,000 years . Its climate was similar to that of the African savanna,
with animals wandering around the shore of a huge lake.But the breakdown
in the environment caused the lake to dry and forced people to migrate
to the Nile Valley. Dakhla has been known as al-Wah, the Inner Oasis,
Oasis Magna, and Zeszes, place of the two swords. Over a hundred ancient
cemeteries have been recorded, covering a span of time from prehistory
to the Roman period. The Insitut Francais d'Archeologie Orientale,
have uncovered what is believed to be the Old Kingdom capital of Dakhla
Oasis. Evidence suggests Dakhla may have been much more important
to the Nile Valley Pharaohs than Kharga. During the New Kingdom, Mut
became the capital of Dakhla. During Roman rule Dakhla was heavily
populated, but it must be remembered that Dakhla was an agricultural
area. Unlike Kharga, dotted with dozens of Roman fortresses, only
a few ruined fortresses have been found in Dakhla. After the Roman
period the population declined, but grew again when Christians came
to Dakhla. There are ruins of Coptic churches dating back as late
as the seventh century. The period from the seventh to the eighteenth
centuries has left a permanent mark on this oasis. Threatened by invaders
from the south and west Islamic fortified towns like Qasr El Dakhla,
Qalamun, and Budkhulu were constructed . |
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