Quseir al-Qadim — Southern Roman Anchorage (Leukos Limen South)
Quseir South Anchorage · Leukos Limen South Basin · Quseir al-Qadim South Harbour
Roman to Early Islamic (1 CE – 800 CE)·Roman / Byzantine / Early Islamic·🇪🇬 Red Sea Governorate, Red Sea coast, Quseir al-Qadim southern basin south of Myos Hormos, Egypt
About
About Quseir al-Qadim — Southern Roman Anchorage (Leukos Limen South)
Southern Roman anchorage at Quseir al-Qadim south of the Myos Hormos lagoon, where the debated Leukos Limen (White Harbour) southern roadstead now lies 2–4 m submerged off the Mövenpick reef promontory. 5 m recorded by 2002 Southampton underwater survey and 2018 geoarchaeology. Initially identified as Leukos Limen before 2006 re-identification as Myos Hormos, south anchorage handled 4th–6th c. CE coastal supply when north lagoon silted. Breakwater uses reused Ptolemaic blocks with Late Roman repair.
Why it mattersSouth anchorage resolves Leukos Limen debate — proves bipartite Quseir harbour (north Myos Hormos, south Late Roman Leukos Limen reuse); amphora dates Late Roman-Islamic transition.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether south is Leukos Limen proper or Late Roman annex
- 02Attribution of spolia to Ptolemaic demolition?
Theories
- 01North silt forced Late Roman shift south
- 02Amphora dump is intentional ballast infill
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 1st c. CE Roman harbour; southern breakwater 4th c. CE Late Roman
- Period
- Roman to Early Islamic (1 CE – 800 CE)
- Culture
- Roman / Byzantine / Early Islamic
- Builders
- Roman / Late Roman
- Purpose
- Late Roman coastal supply anchorage when north lagoon silted; Leukos Limen debate locus
- Abandoned
- c. 750 CE Abbasid shift to Aydhab
- Rediscovered
- 1982 Whitcomb survey; south basin 2002 Southampton diving
- Excavation
- Submerged
1st c. CE
Roman Quseir harbour built north lagoon
c. 350–450 CE
Southern breakwater 65 m built as north silted
2002
Southampton survey maps south anchorage Leukos Limen debate
On the ground
Structures & features
26.1050° N · 34.2850° E · -2 m · 3 mapped features
Coral Breakwater (65 m, spolia)
breakwater65 m coral breakwater at –3 m with reused Ptolemaic blocks
26.1055° N · 34.2855° EMangrove Pile Quay (50 m)
quay50 m mangrove pile quay at –1.8 m
26.1050° N · 34.2850° ELate Roman Amphora Dump
dumpAmphora scatter 40×25 m at –2.5 m Late Roman C14
26.1045° N · 34.2852° E