Manchester: Researchers help uncover ancient Egyptian city
An ancient Egyptian city has been uncovered by a team of British and Egyptian archaeologists. Archaeologists from the University of Manchester worked alongside a team from the University of Sadat City in Cairo to excavate the ancient city of Imet in the eastern Nile Delta.The team combined remote sensing using high-resolution satellite imagery with on-the-ground archaeology, unearthing artefacts including a cooking pot complete with the remains of a 4th century BC fish stew.Project lead Dr Nicky Nielsen said: "Imet is emerging as a key site for rethinking the archaeology of Late Period Egypt."
Gives you 'a jolt'
"This discovery opens new doors to our understanding of daily life, spirituality and urban planning in the Delta," he added.Dr Nielsen said the cooking pot they found contained tilapia bones and it was found still in place on a hearth.Next to it were platters where bread would have been leavened in the sun, he added.Dr Nielsen said: "When you take it out of the ground and you are the first person to touch it in 2,500 years then it does give you a bit of a jolt."He said archaeologists first excavated the area in the 1800s but they had focused on the nearby temple site and cemetery rather than the settlement.Dr Nielsen and his team also uncovered multi-storey homes, along with granaries and a ceremonial road linked to the worship of the cobra goddess Wadjet.
Among the other artefacts uncovered during excavations at Tell el-Fara'in, also known as Tell Nabasha, was a shabti figurine made out of green faience ceramic, which would have been intended for a tomb.This figurine dates from the 26th Dynasty, which was the late Egyptian period around 2,300 years ago. Shabti figurines were inscribed with a spell and put in the tombs of high ranking officials in the belief that they would be servants for the deceased during the afterlife, when they believed they would be expected to do agricultural work."They were a way of getting out of labour in the afterlife," said Dr Nielsen.Further artefacts excavated included a small amuletic tomb marker known as a steal, which depicts the god Harpocrates standing on top of two crocodiles with the head of the god Bes above him.This amulet was intended to protect against disease.They also unearthed a bronze sistrum, which is a kind of metal rattle used in temples.This was adorned with the twin heads of Hathor, goddess of music and joy.Dr Nielsen said they reflected a vibrant spiritual culture.
Dr Nielsen said that by combining remote sensing with on-the-ground archaeology, the team had begun to transform understanding of the urban, religious and economic life of this city in the Nile Delta during the 4th Century BCE.The team used high-resolution satellite imagery to identify clusters of ancient mud bricks prior to excavation. This led to the discovery of dense architectural remains, including substantial tower houses, which were multi-storey buildings supported by exceptionally thick foundation walls."These tower houses are mainly found in the Nile Delta between the Late Period and the Roman era, and are rare elsewhere in Egypt," said Dr. Nielsen. "Their presence here shows that Imet was a thriving and densely-built city with a complex urban infrastructure."Additional discoveries include a paved area for grain processing and animal enclosures, pointing to an active local economy alongside its religious significance.
Dr Nielsen said that elsewhere, excavators found a large building with a limestone plaster floor and "massive pillars" dating to the mid-Ptolemaic Period offering insights into shifting religious landscapes in ancient Egypt.A University of Manchester spokesperson said their involvement in the project continued to shape global narratives of Egypt's forgotten cities, "bringing the ancient Delta back into view one discovery at a time".The excavation team also comprised Dr Diana Nikolova from the University of Liverpool among other researchers from around the world.
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BBC News
15 hours ago
- BBC News
Manchester: Researchers help uncover ancient Egyptian city
An ancient Egyptian city has been uncovered by a team of British and Egyptian archaeologists. Archaeologists from the University of Manchester worked alongside a team from the University of Sadat City in Cairo to excavate the ancient city of Imet in the eastern Nile team combined remote sensing using high-resolution satellite imagery with on-the-ground archaeology, unearthing artefacts including a cooking pot complete with the remains of a 4th century BC fish lead Dr Nicky Nielsen said: "Imet is emerging as a key site for rethinking the archaeology of Late Period Egypt." Gives you 'a jolt' "This discovery opens new doors to our understanding of daily life, spirituality and urban planning in the Delta," he Nielsen said the cooking pot they found contained tilapia bones and it was found still in place on a to it were platters where bread would have been leavened in the sun, he Nielsen said: "When you take it out of the ground and you are the first person to touch it in 2,500 years then it does give you a bit of a jolt."He said archaeologists first excavated the area in the 1800s but they had focused on the nearby temple site and cemetery rather than the Nielsen and his team also uncovered multi-storey homes, along with granaries and a ceremonial road linked to the worship of the cobra goddess Wadjet. Among the other artefacts uncovered during excavations at Tell el-Fara'in, also known as Tell Nabasha, was a shabti figurine made out of green faience ceramic, which would have been intended for a figurine dates from the 26th Dynasty, which was the late Egyptian period around 2,300 years ago. Shabti figurines were inscribed with a spell and put in the tombs of high ranking officials in the belief that they would be servants for the deceased during the afterlife, when they believed they would be expected to do agricultural work."They were a way of getting out of labour in the afterlife," said Dr artefacts excavated included a small amuletic tomb marker known as a steal, which depicts the god Harpocrates standing on top of two crocodiles with the head of the god Bes above amulet was intended to protect against also unearthed a bronze sistrum, which is a kind of metal rattle used in was adorned with the twin heads of Hathor, goddess of music and Nielsen said they reflected a vibrant spiritual culture. Dr Nielsen said that by combining remote sensing with on-the-ground archaeology, the team had begun to transform understanding of the urban, religious and economic life of this city in the Nile Delta during the 4th Century team used high-resolution satellite imagery to identify clusters of ancient mud bricks prior to excavation. This led to the discovery of dense architectural remains, including substantial tower houses, which were multi-storey buildings supported by exceptionally thick foundation walls."These tower houses are mainly found in the Nile Delta between the Late Period and the Roman era, and are rare elsewhere in Egypt," said Dr. Nielsen. "Their presence here shows that Imet was a thriving and densely-built city with a complex urban infrastructure."Additional discoveries include a paved area for grain processing and animal enclosures, pointing to an active local economy alongside its religious significance. Dr Nielsen said that elsewhere, excavators found a large building with a limestone plaster floor and "massive pillars" dating to the mid-Ptolemaic Period offering insights into shifting religious landscapes in ancient Egypt.A University of Manchester spokesperson said their involvement in the project continued to shape global narratives of Egypt's forgotten cities, "bringing the ancient Delta back into view one discovery at a time".The excavation team also comprised Dr Diana Nikolova from the University of Liverpool among other researchers from around the world. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Lost temple found in mountains reveals secrets of civilization that vanished 1,000 years ago
A vast stone temple built 1,000 years ago by one of South America's most powerful civilizations has been uncovered in the Andes. Archaeologists discovered the temple, known as Palaspata, atop a ridge in the remote highlands southeast of Lake Titicaca, near the small community of Ocotavi in western Bolivia. The large structure was the craftsmanship of the Tiwanaku civilization, which left a mark on the world with impressive stone structures, advanced irrigation systems, and unique art and pottery before vanishing around 1000AD. Covering an area roughly the size of a city block, the site measures approximately 410 feet long by 476 feet wide. It features 15 rectangular enclosures arranged around a central courtyard, which appears to align with the solar equinox, a time when the sun rises directly over the equator and is often marked by key ritual dates in ancient cultures. The team believes more than 20,000 people may have lived here, as some buildings were constructed with stones weighing over 100 tons, showing highly organized labor and planning. 'This was not just a temple, it was a strategic hub, an entry point between the highlands and lowland trade routes,' said Dr José Capriles, lead archaeologist from Pennsylvania State University and co-author of the study. 'This was a place where people, goods, and gods all crossed paths.'. The newly discovered complex is located about 130 miles south of Tiwanaku's established historical site, on top of a hill known to local Indigenous farmers but was never explored in depth by researchers due to its unassuming location. Carbon dating revealed the site was most active between AD 630 and 950, during the period when the Tiwanaku civilization expanded its influence into the eastern valleys. 'Their society collapsed sometime around 1000 CE and was a ruin by the time the Incas conquered the Andes in the 15th century,' Dr Capriles said. 'It boasted a highly organized societal structure, leaving behind remnants of architectural monuments like pyramids, terraced temples and monoliths, most of which are distributed in sites around Lake Titicaca.' The ancient temple once featured tall, red sandstone and white quartzite stones that marked its perimeter. Though much of the original structure has collapsed, its rectangular design and astronomical alignment are still visible as its pieces still litter the ground. The central courtyard may have once held a sunken ceremonial plaza, a hallmark of Tiwanaku temples. The temple's surface was scattered with fragments of keru cups, used for drinking chicha, a traditional maize beer, during agricultural feasts and celebrations, indicating its role as a key trade hub, according to Capriles. Since maize was not grown locally but in the Cochabamba valleys, unlike the high-altitude temple site, this highlights the temple's significance in enabling access to diverse goods, including food, and linking different culinary traditions, he added. 'The archaeological findings at Palaspata are significant because they highlight a crucial aspect of our local heritage that had been completely overlooked,' said Justo Ventura Guarayo, mayor of the municipality of Caracollo, where the site is located. 'This discovery is vital for our community.' Views of the Palaspata temple: A) an aerial mosaic created from recent drone images, and B) a filtered image showing color differences, overlaid with a grid to outline the temple's structure. The Palaspata complex had remained undetected by archaeologists until recently, when they spotted unusual geometric shapes in satellite photos. Researchers then used an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, and 3D imaging techniques to confirm the presence of a man-made structure. 'Because the features are very faint, we blended various satellite images,' said Dr Capriles. Nearby, at a smaller archaeological site called Ocotavi 1, researchers uncovered homes, tools, animal bones and human burials with skull shaping a sign of high status in Andean culture. Nearby, at a smaller archaeological site called Ocotavi 1, researchers uncovered homes, tools, animal bones and human burials with skull shaping, a sign of high status in Andean culture.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Lost 2,400-year-old city uncovered by archaeologists with multi-storey buildings and temple dedicated to cobra goddess
Researchers said the city had a "complex urban infrastructure" ANCIENT SECRETS Lost 2,400-year-old city uncovered by archaeologists with multi-storey buildings and temple dedicated to cobra goddess Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A ONCE bustling city with multi-storey tower houses and a cobra goddess temple built 2,400 years ago has been discovered by archaeologists. The densely built city dates back to the 4th century BCE - and even used to have a thriving local economy and religious traditions, researchers said. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Archaeologists have discovered the remains of an ancient lost city Credit: University of Manchester 5 The city of Imet existed around 2,400 years ago Credit: Dr Nicky Nielsen et al 5 Scientists found artefacts to prove the groundbreaking city was a bustling hub Credit: University of Manchester Buried under modern day Tell el-Fara'in, Egypt, state-of-the-art technology has been used to uncover the ancient city of Imet. Boffins from the University of Manchester and the University of Sadat City in Cairo made the groundbreaking discovery in the African nation's Nile Delta. A team of archaeologists led by Dr. Nicky Nielsen excavated an array of extraordinary artefacts - which point to the location's booming economy and religious practice. The team said: "The University of Manchester is bringing the ancient Delta back one discovery at a time." They said locating the forgotten city of Imet allowed them to have a greater understanding of "daily life, spirituality, and urban planning in the Delta". The incredible city dates back to the Late Period in Egypt - the final era of Egyptian rule which was killed off by Alexander the Great's conquest. Archaeologists used remote sensing including high-resolution satellite imagery. They first detected ancient mudbricks, which led them to discover 'dense architectural remains'. These included multi-storey buildings with "exceptionally thick foundation walls". The team dubbed these "tower houses". Mystery as body of footless Roman with KNIFE in back found at ancient fort The 4th-century Egyptians are understood to have built them to accommodate their soaring population. Imet, as well as the Delta region, became an urban center, the scientists said following their breakthrough finding. Leading researcher Dr Nielsen said: "These tower houses are mainly found in the Nile Delta between the Late Period and the Roman era, and are rare elsewhere in Egypt. "Their presence here shows that Imet was a thriving and densely built city with a complex urban infrastructure." In another shocking revelation, the scientists also discovered a large building dating to the mid-Ptolemaic Period - even older than the Late Period. This fascinating find meant that the city may have had even more ancient roots. The building, which is understood to be older than the rest of the city, had a limestone plaster floor and massive pilars. It was also built across a processional road that connected it to a temple dedicated to the city's patron deity, Wadjet, the cobra goddess. But it was abandoned around the mid-Ptolemaic era, sparking theories that religious beliefs may have changed at the time, the experts said. Archaeologists also uncovered a grain-processing area and animal pens - proof that Imet had a developed local economy and religious traditions. And they found artefacts which supported the idea that the Delta centre was once a thriving Ancient Egyptian community. Their most prized discoveries included a green faience ushabti from the 26th Dynasty, a stela of the god Harpocrates with protective iconography, and a bronze sistrum adorned with the twin heads of Hathor, goddess of music and joy. These finds have helped experts piece together one of Ancient Egypt's long-lost cities - shining new light on the empire's final days. 5 The scientists said the discovery will help them unearth more about the empire's final days Credit: University of Manchester
