Ancient road of petrified wood and basalt discovered in Faiyum. Ancient road constructed from limestone base topped with basalt and petrified wood Road extends from basalt quarry in Faiyum toward ancient lake shore Petrified wood logs are Middle Eocene, approximately 40 million years old
An ancient road constructed from limestone topped with basalt and petrified wood extends from a basalt quarry in Faiyum toward the ancient lake shore. The petrified wood logs date to the Middle Eocene, approximately 40 million years old. The road descends steeply from the quarry area to the lake level and was likely used to transport basalt during high lake periods around 7-8 thousand years ago. The road is preserved in sections but disappears in others due to erosion and flood damage. A nearby petrified forest contains hundreds of massive logs stripped of bark and branches.
Key Facts
- Ancient road constructed from limestone base topped with basalt and petrified wood
- Road extends from basalt quarry in Faiyum toward ancient lake shore
- Petrified wood logs are Middle Eocene, approximately 40 million years old
- Road preserved in sections, disappears in others due to erosion and flood damage
- Road descends steeply from quarry area to lake level
- May represent route for transporting basalt during high lake periods (7-8 thousand years ago)
- Petrified forest nearby contains hundreds of massive logs stripped of bark and branches
Related site: Al-Fayyum / Fayyum / Faiyum / Medinet el-Fayum / Shedet / Chedet / Crialon / Krokodilopolis — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: Primordial Egypt - On the Trail of the Ancients by Brothers of the Serpent