Shenshef
The settlement of Shenshef comprises two types of buildings. One are large, well-built structures made of aplite, a brown to yellow stone which naturally breaks into large rectangular blocks. These structures occur mainly on the south side of the wadi:
 
A second type of buildings at Shenshef are much simpler huts built of grey to black meta-gabbro readily picked up from the surface. These structures appear to be slightly earlier than the more impressive type and occur almost everywhere on site:
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Objective of visit:
 
 To draw a measured plan of the site, including a hill-top fort (1995), and study the surface remains (including the ceramic finds).
Date of visit:
   - January 1995
- January 1996
Fellow visitors:
   Eng. Brian Cannon (1995) and Eng. Fred Aldsworth (1996) assisted by Barbara Tratseart, Jacco Dieleman (Berenike Project) and Prof.Dr. Steve Sidebotham (University of Delaware).
Results:
A map was drawn of the site and its environs using the Global Positioning System and a theodolite with steel tape measures. Two sondages were performed in 1996. Off-site assistance was given by pottery expert Dr. Roberta Tomber (Museum of London) and archaeo-botanist Dr. René Cappers (University of Groningen). In 1997, eight trenches were excavated here by a small team of scholars and local workmen directed by Dori Gould.

The results concerning the hill-top fort can be found in: Sidebotham S.E, Wendrich W.Z. Berenike 1995; Preliminary report of the 1995 excavations at Berenike (Egyptian Red Sea coast) and the survey of the Eastern desert. Leiden (CNWS) 1996: 391-7 (ISBN 90-7378-70-8).
The results of the survey can be found in: Sidebotham S.E, Wendrich W.Z. Berenike 1996; Report of the 1996 excavations at Berenike (Egyptian Red Sea coast) and the survey of the Eastern desert. Leiden (CNWS) 1998: 427-43 (ISBN 90-5789-001-1).
The results of the excavations can be found in: Sidebotham S.E, Wendrich W.Z. Berenike 1997, Report of the 1997 excavations at Berenike and the survey of the Egyptian Eastern desert, including excavations at Shenshef. Leiden (CNWS) 1999: 371-444 (ISBN 90-5789-025-9).
Approximate position and date of the site:   Shenshef is in the extreme south-east of Egypt, close to the Sudanese border and the Red Sea coast. Pottery indicates that the town was active in the late Roman period (ca. 300 - 600 AD).
Short description of the site:   The function of Shenshef is unclear as it is not near any ancient road, quarry or mine. Most likely the settlement served some purpose for Berenike, which is at a walking distance of less than a day.
Additional remarks:
Remarkable is the presence in Shenshef of water on, or just below the surface all year round. This project was sponsored by the stichting Utopa and the Berenike Project.
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