A The exact meaning of these detailed carvings has divided Egyptologists ever since they were discovered in the mid-fifth century.
B For all the skill and craftsmanship evident in the Mersa Gawasis caves, ancient Egypt’s ocean voyages were most likely an exception to the usual modes of trade, born out of a necessity to obtain precious materials, such as incense and aromatic resins.
C Mersa Gawasis fell out of use, probably because either there was no longer enough water in the lagoon to float ships, or overland links improved, or alternative sites were found. The last sailors to use the lagoon sealed up their equipment and shelters behind mud bricks and sand to await expeditions that never came.
Questions
1. possible reasons why one settlement was abandoned
2. mention of a lack of agreement about an archaeological discovery
3. a reason why the ancient Egyptians needed to import goods by sea