Abstract
Study is mapping the trade routes and economical situation in Bahariya (and el-Hayz) Oasis in Egyptian Western Desert during late Roman period. Knowledge of various details about ancient trade routes comes from many sources, for example notes of Ancient authors, epigraphical findings and numerous archaeological transcripts, 19th and 20th centuries archeologists reports as well as from recent archaeological expeditions.
Based on these informations the study sets position for the Bahariya Oasis onto the ancient caravan routes in the Western Desert (in between all of the oasis positioned in the location of the egyptian Western desert, Nile Valley, Libya, Sudan and Mediterranean shores). Recent research in the Oasis gave rise to new insights concerning economical and social situation there.
For example transport amphorae represent good methodological tool since their trafficking in the ancient Mediterranean is nowadays important for the estimation of existing contacts between Egyptian Western Desert, other regions in Northern Africa, and Roman empire. As a summary the study contributes to analysis of trade politics patterns emerging in late Roman period.