06/08/2026
Archaeologists exploring the ancient mining settlement of Samut in Egypt's Eastern Desert have uncovered heavy iron shackles used to chain victims of forced labor in a Ptolemaic-era gold mine dating back to the 3rd century BC.
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Archaeologists investigating the ancient mining settlement of Samut in Egypt's Eastern Desert have discovered heavy iron shackles believed to have been used to restrain victims of forced labor in a Ptolemaic-era gold mine from the 3rd century BC. Hidden deep within the harsh desert environment, these unsettling artifacts provide a rare and chilling insight into the brutal working conditions and strict control measures imposed on a captive labor force under the ancient state system.
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