Roman military presence in the Western Desert of Egypt

This research paper focuses on complex reconstruction of environmental conditions in the Western Desert of Egypt during the Roman times. Archaeological and historical documents provide very important information about Roman occupation development in the Egyptian oases (Siwa, Bahariya, Farafra, Dakhla, Kharga) and exploitation of the desert. The work is aimed at evidence of Roman military presence in the study area on the basis of current results of archaeological surveys. Observations of Roman methods to adapt in hyperarid landscape contribute to analyse general questions concerning human response to climate changes in northern Africa. Key words: Egypt, environment of desert, oases, chmate, vegetation, Western Desert, Siwa, Farafra Bahriya, Dakhla, Kharga, roman fortification, settlement, desert routes, mudbrick, underground water