The ancient Egyptians sureloved gold , and it seems they check human suffering as a lowly Mary Leontyne Price to yield for the precious metallic element . raw discoveries at a 2,300 - twelvemonth - older gold mine reveal that some worker may have been forced to take out the stuff with ponderous iron shackles around their ankle joint , highlighting the cruelty and hardness upon which the Egyptian empire was built .

Describing the worrisome discovery in a new study , historian and archaeologist Bérangère Redon explains thatgold miningexperienced a thunder during the Ptolemaic period , which began followingAlexander the Great ’s Conquest of Egypt in 332 BCE . The longest and final dynasty of ancient Egypt , the era opened with the formula of Ptolemy I – a trusted superior general of Alexander – and saw more than 40 new mine make throughout the kingdom .

“ The new dynasty founded by Ptolemy I neededgoldto store military drive in the Mediterranean , prestige projects overseas and monolithic construction in Alexandria , reflecting its power and wealth , ” writes Redon .

The northmost gold mine from this period was situate at Ghozza and operated during the second half of the third century BCE . 100 of pottery shards called ostraca have been found at the site , some of which are inscribed with information about miners receiving wages .

Moreover , a lack of guard construction in the workers ’ village at Ghozza suggest that many of those who toiled in the mine were in all likelihood free laborers rather than slaves .

However , in January 2023 , two sets ofiron shackleswere key out in the settlement , painting a rather less progressive picture . The first of these consists of seven fundament - mob along with two chain links , while the s features four links and fragments from two ring .

“ These hamper were not think for restrain animals , as roach tie-in were typically used for that purpose , ” pen Redon . “ Instead , they were designed for human use , ” she continues , tally that “ walk with them would have been slow and wearing , particularly given their free weight . ”

As horrible as this fathom , it ’s not particularly surprising to learn that the ancient Egyptians made manipulation of forced labor in their gold mines . Historical textual matter penned by the second one C BCE author Agatharchides , for case , discover that “ those who have been condemned in this way – and they are of a great multitude and all have their pes bind – ferment at their tasks continuously both by day and throughout the entire night . ”

So while some of Ghozza ’s miners do seem to have been barren doer , the world for many of those who supply the Ptolemies with their treasured Au was far less pleasant .

“ Beneath the grandness of Egypt ’s wealth and the imposing mountains of the Eastern Desert lie a history of development , ” writes Redon . “ The gold extracted from these mine assist finance the ambitions of Egypt ’s rulers , but it came at a significant human cost . ”

The study is published in the journalAntiquity .