Qasr Ibrim

The most impressive feature at Qasr Ibrim is the early Christian cathedral, and its associated structures, which in places still stands to its original height:
 
In many places in the town as well as the surrounding desert, carved depictions of feet can be found, left by the large number of pilgrims that have visited the site:
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
Objective of visit:
 
To participate in the on-going survey, excavations and study of the finds of Qasr Ibrim as a member of the Egypt Exploration Society expeditions. Specific tasks included planning and the study of humans remains (1990-'92), photography (2000), survey work and the study of ballista balls (2004).
Date of visit:
  - January-February 1990
- January-February 1992
- February 2000
- February 2004
Fellow visitors:
  The large teams of scholars and local workmen were directed by Dr. Mark Horton (1990-'92) and Dr. Pamela Rose (2000-'04).
Results:
The results of the expeditions to Qasr Ibrim are published in the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology and in a series of monographs published by the Egypt Exploration Society. See also A. Wilkins, H. Barnard and P.J. Rose (2006), 'Roman artillery balls from Qasr Ibrim,' Sudan & Nubia 10: pp. 64-78.
Approximate position and date of the site:   Qasr Ibrim once was an eagle's nest over Lower Nubia but is now an island, or at times a peninsula, on the east bank of the artificial Lake Nasser which came into being after the closing of the Aswan High Dam in the early 1960's. The site was intermittently inhabited from as early as the Late Kingdom until the 1840's.
Short description of the site:   Qasr Ibrim functioned as a military stronghold and a destination of religious pilgrimage for various armies and religious denominations.
Additional remarks:
The remarkable good preservation on site has recently come under threat of the high water levels in Lake Nasser associated with the Toshka Project.
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