Archaeologists have uncovered a previously unknown structure beneath the ruins of Per-Wadjet, an ancient city in Egypt’s Nile Delta. The discovery, made using advanced scanning technology, offers a glimpse into a 2,600-year-old religious complex from the Saite period (around 600 BCE), just before the Persian conquest. The city itself has undergone multiple iterations throughout history, known variously as Per-Wadjet, Buto (under Greek rule), and today as Tell el-Fara’in (“Hill of the Pharaohs”).
The Challenge of Ancient Sites
Traditional excavations at sites like Tell el-Fara’in are hampered by deep sediment layers, groundwater, and sheer scale. This makes pinpointing worthwhile dig locations difficult. The city’s 6,000 years of occupation mean layers of debris and reconstruction obscure older structures.
To overcome these challenges, a team led by Mohamed Abouarab of Kafrelsheikh University employed satellite radar and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). This approach is akin to a large-scale CT scan of the ground, allowing researchers to identify buried anomalies without extensive digging.
How the Discovery Was Made
Using Sentinel-1 radar imagery from 2018, the team flagged 15 potential subsurface structures at a site called Kom C. ERT was then used, involving the placement of 24 electrodes in a 69-meter cable. By measuring how electrical currents travel through the ground, they mapped resistance levels to reveal hidden features.
The scans revealed a mudbrick structure approximately 25×20 meters buried between 3–6 meters below the surface. Excavations confirmed the finding: walls dating back to the 26th Dynasty, along with amulets and objects from that era. The method proved so effective that it identified a potential second buried temple, yet to be investigated.
What Was Found?
The uncovered structure appears to have served a religious function. Archaeologists found amulets of deities like Isis, Horus, Taweret, and Wadjet (the city’s namesake). One peculiar find was a hybrid figure combining a baboon, falcon, and Patikos (a dwarf god). The presence of these artifacts strongly suggests the building was a temple, a mortuary complex, or a priestly residence.
The team emphasizes that determining the exact function will require further excavation. The ability to identify promising dig sites with precision saves time and resources, and could unlock deeper mysteries within the ancient city.
The discovery demonstrates that combining remote sensing and geophysical measurements is a powerful method for archaeological exploration in complex regions. This approach offers a non-invasive way to explore buried settlements and has opened the door for future studies at Tell el-Fara’in.
