Structures of an ancient marine port of Ayla has been discovered in the the Red Sea city of Aqaba, Jordan, dating back more than 1000 years during the Islamic era (650-1116 AD).

At the site such features as a furnace for the production of pottery, and spaces for the maintenance and manufacture of ships and sails were discovered. According to Ehab Eid, work is under way to identify the extent of the activity of the port of Ayla, which links the commercial road from the Levant, Hijaz, Egypt and the Maghreb with the maritime navigational route that reaches India, east and South Asia and Africa.

(after ANSA)