Egyptian and US Archaeologists discover a 5000 years old fleet of ships near the Nile

Updated: 11 Dec 2020

On 20 December 1991 (21 December according to other sources) Egyptian and American Archaeologists discovered a 5000 years old fleet of ships near the Nile in Abydos. The boats were believed to be the first royal ships, possibly belonging to the second dynasty Pharaoh, Khasekhemwy. However, other archeologists believed that the boats might have been built by an earlier Pharaoh, Djer, of the first dynasty. It was concluded that the boats were used for burial of royals. The boats boasted very advanced design for their era and were built to withstand rough seas.

How we know this

01Discover Magazine Egypt's Ancient Fleet: Lost for Thousands of Years, Discovered in a Desolate Cave [online] Available at: https://discovermagazine.com[Accessed on 19 November 2012]
02Phys.org Archaeologists discover shipwrecks, ancient harbor on coast of Israel [online] Available at: https://phys.org [Accessed on 19 November 2012]

Last updated · 11 Dec 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, December 13). Egyptian and US Archaeologists discover a 5000 years old fleet of ships near the Nile. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094409

South African History Online (2012) 'Egyptian and US Archaeologists discover a 5000 years old fleet of ships near the Nile', South African History Online, 13 December. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094409 (Accessed: 11 November 2026).

South African History Online, Egyptian and US Archaeologists discover a 5000 years old fleet of ships near the Nile [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094409, (accessed 11 November 2026).

"Egyptian and US Archaeologists discover a 5000 years old fleet of ships near the Nile." South African History Online, 13 Dec. 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094409. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

South African History Online. "Egyptian and US Archaeologists discover a 5000 years old fleet of ships near the Nile." South African History Online. December 13, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094409.