Judging from the comments of the Egyptian Queen Hatshepsut and
Tuthmosis 111, the Land of Punt is conterminous with Somalia. Basil
Davidson seems to think that it also includes Eritrea. It seems that
contemporary Somalis also identify the Land of Punt as ancient
Somalia. It would be interesting to know what else Somali oral
tradition says about Punt.
[2]
Date sent: Mon, 29 May 1995
From: Richard Lobban, Rhode Island College
<RLOBBAN@grog.ric.edu>
The standard approach to the unlcear identity of Punt has been to
locate it at the end of the Red Sea/Horn of Africa or about Somalia.
This is estimated by the similarity of the goods and products shown
on board the vessels of the New Kingdom voyage undertaken by Queen
Hatshepsut. This is probably not too far wrong and may be right, but
some scholars such as David O-Connor put Punt further up the coast at
Suakin or Eritrrea/Eritrea.
This matter is still continuing to be debated, but it also leads to
other early voyages on the Red Sea and even around the African
continent reported by classical scholars. A very fascinating case is
that of a three year voyage undertaken by Phoenicians sailing under
pharoah Necho II.
A very interesting topic. Have a nice day and I look forward to more
conversation on this.