A joint Egyptian-French archaeological mission has uncovered a Mamluk-era water supply system and mosque remains near the Saladin Citadel in Cairo.
The discoveries provide new insights into the life of medieval citadel residents, reports Oxu.Az citing Ahram Online.
The mission, a collaboration between Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) and the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology (IFAO), conducted excavations in the Arab al-Yasar and al-Hattaba areas.
In Arab al-Yasar, two stone wells, about 10 meters in diameter and 8 meters deep, were found connected to a waterwheel system that lifted water to the citadel's summit.
Remains of four waterwheels and a network of stone channels were also discovered, revealing for the first time the final stage of the aqueduct's hydraulic system.
Excavations also uncovered infrastructure related to water operations, including animal tracks, stables, feed storage areas, water basins, and stone-paved surfaces.
In nearby al-Hattaba, archaeologists found Mamluk-era mosque remains, a burial chamber, and several graves from different Islamic periods.
Artifacts include ceramic elements used in water-lifting mechanisms, as well as coins from the Mamluk and Ottoman periods.
The water channel extending westward towards government stables may help reassess daily life around the citadel.
