Iron shackles dating back to the Early Ptolemaic period (3rd century B.C.) have been unearthed in Ghozza, Egypt, marking a significant archaeological find. These shackles are notable for being among the oldest discovered in the Mediterranean, particularly connected to mining. They suggest that the workforce at Ghozza comprised both free laborers and those enslaved. This site, rich in natural resources like gold and copper, indicates a sophisticated living arrangement for miners, featuring residential buildings and amenities, differentiating it from other mines used during the Ptolemaic era.
The shackles are the first archaeological evidence that enslaved or forced laborers were employed at Ghozza alongside the wage-earning miners, revealing a complex labor structure.
These iron shackles, among the oldest in the Mediterranean, shed light on the presence of both free and forced laborers in Egypt's 3rd-century B.C. gold mines.
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