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Why did ancient Egyptian craftspeople import wood from foreign lands?

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Ancient Egyptian illustration from the Book of the Dead showing Anubis weighing the soul of the scribe Ani, with gods seated above and hieroglyphic text throughout. — Egyptian art and architecture Anubis weighing the soul of the scribe Ani, from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, c. 1275 bce.

Ancient Egyptian craftspeople imported wood from foreign lands, particularly Lebanon, because high-quality timber was not abundant within Egypt itself. While Egypt possessed excellent deposits of stone, wood was scarce and essential for various construction and craft purposes.12

Although the Egyptians used native materials like mud brick and reeds for everyday building, they required imported timber for specialized needs, such as roofs and the frames of royal buildings. Furthermore, the lack of local timber meant that wood was a necessary import to support the high standards of craftsmanship seen in Egyptian cabinetmaking and the production of fine furniture, such as the chairs, beds, and chests found in royal tombs.234