evidence: Archaeological evidence indicates that settlements have existed in the area since ancient times,[8] and during the Middle Kingdom period, the Egyptian colony of Buhen across the river existed until the Roman period.[9] The modern town of Wadi Halfa was founded in the 19th century, when it became a port on the Nile for steamers from Aswan, such as the Nubia.[10][11] During the Turko-Egyptian conquest of 1820,[12] Wadi Halfa was used as a stopping point for troops headed south. Communications developed in the latter half of the 19th century, with a telegraph line to Egypt connected in 1866 and ill-fated attempts to build a railway to Kerma in 1873[10][verification needed] and 1877.[13] The eventual establishment of the Sudanese rail head at Wadi Halfa—connected via steamer to the Egyptian network via a port just south of Asyut—caused the site to eclipse the former caravan site at Korosko.