During the 1940s Egyptian archaeologist Labib Habachi discovered two wells inscribed with Ramesside cartouches in the south east corner of the fortress. Work began in the area in 2001 in order to relocate, clean and record these important features. An elderly resident of the village indicated where Habachi's excavation had taken place. The first indication of their whereabouts was three loose blocks, including one inscribed with parts of Ramesses' cartouche.

The first well (W1) was found approximately 3 m beneath the present ground level. As we were already below the current water level for the area, it was necessary to use a powerful pump continuously during the work. The trench was extended to the north, and a second well was discovered (W2). Because this area had previously been excavated by Habachi, there were no visible mudbrick features, although there was some evidence of mudbrick walls in the sections at the trench edges. A third well was found in higher ground to the west of the first two (W3).

All three wells were originally inscribed with two rows of inscription. The higher row consists of alternating vertical cartouches 'Usermaatre Setepenre' and 'Ramessu Meryamun'. These cartouches are topped with twin plumes and sit above nwb signs. The lower row consists of alternating horizontal cartouches prefaced with titles 'Ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt', 'Son of Re' and 'Lord of Appearances' and followed by 'given life like Re'.

Well 1 was cleaned out. It is 3.40 m deep, and the walls are made of 12 courses or layers of large limestone blocks. Numerous sherds and various stone artifacts were found in the well, including a curved block from a different well (similar to the block on the higher ground) inscribed with parts of Ramesses II cartouches. The surface of this block had been marked with vertical grooves gouged out of the inscribed face, and it had been used as a fulcrum against which ropes tied to buckets of water had been pulled to the surface of the well.

The first five stone courses of well 2 were excavated and identical inscriptions were found. A third well was found to the west of these two. Well 3 is the best preserved of all, and was the easiest to excavate as the five top courses are above the current water level. These were excavated and cleaned. The rest of the well was then excavated. It is 3.95 m deep, and consists of 14 limestone courses. Again, the well contained numerous sherds as well as many cattle horns and bones.

Well 3 appears to be complete. Comparison with this well indicates that well 1 is missing the top course of stones, and well 2 is missing the top three courses of stones, including the top of the vertical row of cartouches and the Maat feathers. However, it is interesting to note that the two inscribed blocks found in association with these wells do NOT come from any of these. This indicates that there is at least one more well not yet located.