The papyri were found near an animal cemetery in Berenike (Berenice Troglodytica), an ancient Egyptian port on the Red Sea established by Emperor Tiberius shortly after Rome annexed Egypt.

The letters originate from centurions named Haosus, Lucinius, and Petronius. In one of the letters, Petronius inquires about the prices of luxury goods and arranges for their payment.

“I am paying you the money back, I am sending it by ‘dromedarii’ (Roman mounted camel unit). Take care of them, provide them with veal and poles for their tents,” Petronius wrote.

According to Dr. Marta Osypińska from the University of Wrocław, the find is important because of its exceptional value for Egyptologists and historians.

“There are very few sites from the Roman period in this part of the world,” she said.

“The Egyptians do not promote this period in history, in part because it was the time when they were conquered. However, the rank of these discoveries is truly phenomenal,” she continued.

The small papyrus rolls initially posed a challenge due to their damaged state. However, Professor Rodney Ast from Heidelberg University, along with his wife, painstakingly assembled fragments of the papyri into larger, coherent pieces.