gems, beryl, emerald, Egypt, Cleopatra, history of gemology, archaeology, archaeologemology

The archaeological seasons conducted in Wadi Sikait in 2020 and 2021 have significantly expanded our understanding of emerald mining in Roman Egypt, as well as the mining communities that inhabited large settlements like Sikait. This paper explores these developments by presenting the archaeological work carried out in construction complexes and religious buildings at the site, along with an intensive survey of the surrounding emerald mining areas. This research has led to a major breakthrough in our knowledge of emerald extraction and trade during the Graeco-Roman and Byzantine periods.