Les mines d’or ptolémaïques. Résultats des prospections dans le district minier de Samut (désert Oriental)

International audienceAbundant in the Eastern Desert, gold is mined as soon as the early days of the Egyptian kingdom. But in the Ptolemaic Period the State initiates for the first time a systematic and intensive exploitation of the Egyptian gold-bearing veins, to consolidate its power and pursue an ambitious foreign policy. However, if the constant use of gold in Egyptian art has produced a numerous ancient and modern literature, the history of its extraction, production and circulation is less known. In order to study the golden age of the Eastern Desert gold mining, the French mission began its work by exploring the mining district of Samut, located south of the road leading from Edfu to Marsa Allam.This article presents the results of the first mission, carried out in January 2013. The survey has yielded important results: it showed that the area of Samut was organized as a real mine district, coherent and ordered, centred on a large vein in the mountains (North Samut) and a fort in the plain (Bi’r Samut). All technical steps of ore extraction and treatment, until its transformation into gold, have also been located in the area. Ceramics collected on the surface showed, finally, that the vein was used from the beginning of the Ptolemaic Period (late fourth century BC).Abondant dans le désert Oriental, l’or est exploité dès les premiers temps de la royauté égyptienne, mais c’est surtout à l’époque ptolémaïque que le pouvoir engage une exploitation systématique et intensive des filons aurifères égyptiens, pour asseoir sa puissance et mener une politique étrangère ambitieuse. Toutefois, si l’usage constant de l’or dans l’art égyptien a engendré une littérature antique et moderne abondante, l’histoire de son extraction, de sa production et de sa circulation est moins bien connue. Désireuse de se pencher sur l’âge d’or de l’exploitation des mines du désert Oriental, la mission française a débuté ses travaux par l’exploration du district minier de Samut, situé au sud de la route reliant Edfou à Marsa Allam.Le présent article expose les résultats de la première mission, effectuée en janvier 2013. La prospection a donné des résultats importants : elle a démontré que la zone de Samut était organisée comme un véritable district minier, cohérent et hiérarchisé, centré autour d’un grand filon dans les montagnes (Samut Nord) et d’un fortin dans la plaine (Bi’r Samut). Toutes les étapes techniques de l’extraction du minerai et de son traitement, jusqu’à sa transformation en or, ont, en outre, été localisées dans la zone. La céramique ramassée en surface a démontré, enfin, que le filon était exploité dès les débuts de l’époque ptolémaïque (fin du ive s. av. J.-C.).Abundant in the Eastern Desert, gold is mined as soon as the early days of the Egyptian kingdom. But in the Ptolemaic Period the State initiates for the first time a systematic and intensive exploitation of the Egyptian gold-bearing veins, to consolidate its power and pursue an ambitious foreign policy. However, if the constant use of gold in Egyptian art has produced a numerous ancient and modern literature, the history of its extraction, production and circulation is less known. In order to study the golden age of the Eastern Desert gold mining, the French mission began its work by exploring the mining district of Samut, located south of the road leading from Edfu to Marsa Allam.This article presents the results of the first mission, carried out in January 2013. The survey has yielded important results: it showed that the area of Samut was organized as a real mine district, coherent and ordered, centred on a large vein in the mountains (North Samut) and a fort in the plain (Bi’r Samut). All technical steps of ore extraction and treatment, until its transformation into gold, have also been located in the area. Ceramics collected on the surface showed, finally, that the vein was used from the beginning of the Ptolemaic Period (late fourth century BC).Keywords: oldmine – Ptolemaic Period – Samut (Eastern Desert) – survey – mine district