Ain Asil

Ain Asil, Spring of the Origin, is the site of probably the most important settlement in the oasis in the Old Kingdom. It is located 8 kilometers from Bashindi on the track leading to the northern escarpment. There is evidence that the place was continuously inhabited for decades, if not centuries. It was originally a small fortified area which then spread southwards and became a large fortified settlement. Today there are remains from three building phases including large numbers of houses, administrative buildings, funerary chapels of the Old Kingdom and an enclosure wall surrounding the area. It seems that the town was abandoned before the Ptolemaic era, as the burnt out layers of the governor’s palace deliberately set on fire suggest (CISS Inventory 2010; Vivian 1990).

Site coordinates: N 25 333 307 E 29 17 307

Price (years 2019-2020): 40 EGP (foreigner), 20 EGP (foreigner student), 10 EGP (Egyptian), 5 EGP (Egyptian student). It comprises also entrance to the site of Qila al-Dabba.