Dakhla Oasis - Western Desert
The Dakhla oasis, located in the Western Desert between Kharga and Farafra is in fact made up of 16 different settlements. The oasis sits in a depression surrounded by pink limestone rocks. Her inhabitants are mainly farmers. Dakhla is known for its beautiful craft including pottery, rugs, baskets and jewellery. Since ancient times the Bedouins of the ‘Inner Oasis', as Dakhla is called, use the therapeutic effects of the mineral rich hot and cold springs to heal many ailments.
Dakhla has a long outstanding history with evidence of human existence since pre-history when nomadic tribes settled there.
Obviously the fertile land was of great economic importance for the Pharoahs of the Nile Valley. Ancient texts mention that the people of Dakhla paid taxes in form of wine, fruit, grain and minerals.
During the New Kingdom, Mut, named after the ancient sky goddess - the one who created and gave birth to all - became its capital. At Ein al-Asil the remains of a palace and administrative buildings and the attached necropolis at Qila al-Daba date back 
4,000 years.
For the last 25 years archeologists have unearthed a settlement and an extensive necropolis in Amheida, Roman tombs in Bashandi, in Deir al-Hagar, a temple dedicated to the Theban Triad and in Baalat many 6th dynasty mastabas. So far there is no archeological evidence of the presence of ancient Greeks. However, the agricultural vast area of Dakhla was heavily populated during the Roman era with Al-Qasr, originally a Roman settlement about 35 kilometers from Mut, as the medieval capital of agricultural Dakhla.
In the late Byzantine times the Christian population took over many of the Roman sites. At ancient Kellies ('Ismant al-Kharab) a settlement has been discovered with ruins of several ancient churches. Most likely excavations in the oases will reveal more of the important times of transition.
Islam arrived in Egypt in the th century. In Qasr al-Dakhla 12th century remains of buildings show that during the Ayyub era the construction of medieval fortified villages came into existence.
Dakhla is a charming oasis in the Western Desert and furthermore it is the last station, before venturing off into the unknown realms of the Great Sand Sea and the majestic Gilf al-Kebir.
published July 31, 2008
Source: Angela