Archaeologists discover mass graves at ancient Egyptian fortress

The 3,000-year-old archaeological site at Tjaru was already pretty intriguing — it was home to an ancient fortress and was rumored to have hosted exiled criminals — but a new discovery makes Tjaru even more interesting. Archaeologists at the site have found the camp of an ancient Egyptian army, along with mass graves and the skeletal remains of lost soldiers.

Researchers believe Tjaru was a "starting point" for Egyptian military campaigns during the New Kingdom period, from 1580 B.C.E. to 1080 B.C.E., explains The Cairo Post. The camp and graves will help historians better understand the ancient Egyptians' military strategies and architecture.

In addition to the camp and grave sites, the archaeologists discovered storage sites that bore the seal of Pharoah Tuthmose III, who "created the largest empire Egypt had ever seen," according to Ancient Origins. The artifacts found at the site will be displayed at a local museum.

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