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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Archaeologists discover long-lost ancient Egyptian city
Archaeologists have unearthed a long-lost Egyptian city that dates back 2,500 years. Located around six miles (10 km) south of Tanis in Egypt 's Nile Delta, the city of Imet was once a bustling center of religious and economic activity in the fourth century BC. Excavations have now revealed the remains of granaries, animal pens, and a ceremonial building used in the worship of the cobra-headed goddess Wadjet. Archaeologists even found substantial multi-story 'tower houses' built to accommodate the city's fast-growing population. Dr Nicky Nielsen, an archaeologist from the University of Manchester who directed the excavation, says: '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 collaboration with the University of Sadat City, researchers first spotted the ruins through remote sensing technology. By studying high-definition satellite images, Dr Nielsen and his colleagues identified the clusters of ancient mudbrick structures which make up the lost city. Archaeologists believe that Imet was occupied from at least 1550 BC, during Egypt's 18th Dynasty, and was the capital of its administrative district, called a Nome. According to these latest excavations, Imet was at its peak during Egypt's late period around the fourth century BC. This was the last period of Egyptian rule and the height of the Ptolemaic dynasty before Alexander the Great conquered the region in 332 BC. By selecting where to excavate using satellite imagery, archaeologists have now been able to reveal just how developed this city was at the height of its expansion. Excavations uncovered dense architectural remains, including a large, paved area for processing grain and animal enclosures - pointing to an active local economy. Imet was also home to a number of large tower buildings, constructed with exceptionally thick foundation walls. The researchers say these were built to accommodate the city's rapidly urbanizing population. Elsewhere, Dr Nielsen and his colleagues uncovered the remains of religious activity dedicated to the city's patron goddess Wadjet. Dr Nielsen told MailOnline: 'Wadjet was the cobra goddess of Lower Egypt - the Nile Delta - and she was primarily worshipped during the Late Period, both through temple rituals but also by the donation of votive offerings. 'For example, we have some evidence suggesting that one could give little ceramic figurines to the temple in exchange for favors from the goddess who was in particular associated with fertility.' The excavations unearthed a large building with a limestone plaster floor and massive pillars, dating from Imet's peak in the mid-Ptolemaic Period. This building was constructed over the ceremonial road stretching from the entrance to the Temple of Wadjet to the gateway of the mudbrick wall which surrounded the temple. 'This route was used for religious processions when statues of the goddess or other deities worshipped in the temple were carried around by priests to be seen by the population,' says Dr Nielsen. However, by the end of the fourth century BC, the processional route seems to have fallen out of use. This suggests that Egypt's religious landscape may have been undergoing some major changes during this period. Alongside these large structures, the researchers also found several remarkable artefacts which hint at the lives of Imet's long-lost residents. Dr Nielsen says he was particularly surprised to find a copper rattle called a sistrum carved with the face of the god Hathor lying in the street outside one of the tower houses. Dr Nielsen says: 'It was probably kept in a wooden box on one of the upper floors and when the house collapsed following its abandonment, it fell into the street. 'It is a wonderful piece and something that tangibly links to the spiritual life of the inhabitants - these sorts of sistrums were used in temple rituals along with other instruments such as clappers, flutes and drums.' Additionally, the archaeologists found a green faience ushabti - a type of glazed funerary figure - dating from between 664 and 525 BC and a stone slab with engravings of the god Harpocrates and protective symbols. Dr Nielsen says these discoveries offer a valuable insight into the everyday lives of ancient Egyptians. He says: 'We have a very good understanding of ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs and funerary architecture, but archaeology in Egypt has traditionally focused less on daily life and settlement archaeology, so this, in a sense, helps to address that imbalance.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Archaeologists discover long-lost ancient Egyptian city that dates back 2,500 years
Archaeologists have unearthed a long-lost Egyptian city that dates back 2,500 years. Located around six miles (10 km) south of Tanis in Egypt 's Nile Delta, the city of Imet was once a bustling centre of religious and economic activity in the fourth century BC. Excavations have now revealed the remains of granaries, animal pens, and a ceremonial building used in the worship of the cobra-headed goddess Wadjet. Archaeologists even found substantial multi-storey 'tower houses' built to accommodate the city's fast-growing population. Dr Nicky Nielsen, an archaeologist from the University of Manchester who directed the excavation, says: '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 collaboration with the University of Sadat City, researchers first spotted the ruins through remote sensing technology. By studying high-definition satellite images, Dr Nielsen and his colleagues identified the clusters of ancient mudbrick structures which make up the lost city. Archaeologists believe that Imet was occupied from at least 1550 BC, during Egypt's 18th Dynasty, and was the capital of its administrative district, called a Nome. According to these latest excavations, Imet was at its peak during Egypt's late period around the fourth century BC. This was the last period of Egyptian rule and the height of the Ptolemaic dynasty before Alexander the Great conquered the region in 332 BC. By selecting where to excavate using satellite imagery, archaeologists have now been able to reveal just how developed this city was at the height of its expansion. Excavations uncovered dense architectural remains, including a large, paved area for processing grain and animal enclosures - pointing to an active local economy. Imet was also home to a number of large tower buildings, constructed with exceptionally thick foundation walls. The researchers say these were built to accommodate the city's rapidly urbanising population. Elsewhere, Dr Nielsen and his colleagues uncovered the remains of religious activity dedicated to the city's patron goddess Wadjet. Dr Nielsen told MailOnline: 'Wadjet was the cobra goddess of Lower Egypt - the Nile Delta - and she was primarily worshipped during the Late Period, both through temple rituals but also by the donation of votive offerings. 'For example, we have some evidence suggesting that one could give little ceramic figurines to the temple in exchange for favours from the goddess who was in particular associated with fertility.' The excavations unearthed a large building with a limestone plaster floor and massive pillars, dating from Imet's peak in the mid-Ptolemaic Period. This building was constructed over the ceremonial road stretching from the entrance to the Temple of Wadjet to the gateway of the mudbrick wall which surrounded the temple. 'This route was used for religious processions when statues of the goddess or other deities worshipped in the temple were carried around by priests to be seen by the population,' says Dr Nielsen. However, by the end of the fourth century BC, the processional route seems to have fallen out of use. This suggests that Egypt's religious landscape may have been undergoing some major changes during this period. Alongside these large structures, the researchers also found several remarkable artefacts which hint at the lives of Imet's long-lost residents. Archaeologists believe this sistrum may have fallen into the street when the building it was stored in collapsed Dr Nielsen says he was particularly surprised to find a copper rattle called a sistrum carved with the face of the god Hathor lying in the street outside one of the tower houses. Dr Nielsen says: 'It was probably kept in a wooden box on one of the upper floors and when the house collapsed following its abandonment, it fell into the street. 'It is a wonderful piece and something that tangibly links to the spiritual life of the inhabitants - these sorts of sistrums were used in temple rituals along with other instruments such as clappers, flutes and drums.' Additionally, the archaeologists found a green faience ushabti - a type of glazed funerary figure - dating from between 664 and 525 BC and a stone slab with engravings of the god Harpocrates and protective symbols. Dr Nielsen says these discoveries offer a valuable insight into the everyday lives of ancient Egyptians. He says: 'We have a very good understanding of ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs and funerary architecture, but archaeology in Egypt has traditionally focused less on daily life and settlement archaeology, so this, in a sense, helps to address that imbalance.' WHO WAS ALEXANDER THE GREAT? Alexander III of Macedon was born in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia in July 356 BC. He died of a fever in Babylon in June 323 BC. Alexander led an army across the Persian territories of Asia Minor, Syria and Egypt claiming the land as he went. His greatest victory was at the Battle of Gaugamela, now northern Iraq, in 331 BC, and during his trek across these Persian territories, he was said to never have suffered a defeat. This led him to be known as Alexander the Great. Following this battle in Gaugamela, Alexander led his army a further 11,000 miles (17,700km), founded over 70 cities and created an empire that stretched across three continents. This covered from Greece in the west, to Egypt in the south, Danube in the north, and Indian Punjab to the East. Alexander was buried in Egypt, but it is thought his body was moved to prevent looting. His fellow royals were traditionally interred in a cemetery near Vergina, far to the west. The lavishly-furnished tomb of Alexander's father, Philip II, was discovered during the 1970s.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
2,400-year-old tower houses, multi-story buildings discovered in ancient Egyptian city
Excavations at Tell el-Fara'in in Egypt revealed an ancient city from the final years of the Egyptian empire, which once thrived here, dating back to the 4th century BCE. Using state-of-the-art technology in the skies and manpower on the ground, researchers from the University of Sadat City of Cairo and the University of Manchester discovered a city with economic and religious significance in Egypt's eastern Nile Delta. Along with buildings, the team of archaeologists led by Dr. Nicky Nielsen, a senior lecturer in Egyptology, excavated an array of stunning artifacts that point to a thriving local economy and religious center. "The University of Manchester is bringing the ancient Delta back one discovery at a time,' the statement continued. The latest unearthing of Imet, a forgotten Egyptian city, has opened up new doors of understanding of 'daily life, spirituality, and urban planning in the Delta." The once-bustling city of Imet dates back to the 4th century BCE, which corresponded to the Late Period in Egypt, the last era of Egyptian rule that ended with Alexander the Great's conquest. Using remote sensing such as high-resolution satellite imagery, archaeologists first detected ancient mudbricks, which led them to discover 'dense architectural remains,' including multistoried buildings with 'exceptionally thick foundation walls' that archaeologists called 'tower houses.' The 4th-century Egyptians built them to accommodate a growing population, showing that Imet and the Delta region became an urban center, as per a statement. "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." A large building with a limestone plaster floor and massive pillars dating to the mid-Ptolemaic Period, which preceded the Late Period, suggested the city had older roots. It was built across a processional road that connected it to the temple dedicated to the city's patron deity, Wadjet. But it fell out of use around the mid-Ptolemaic Period, leading archaeologists to conclude that religious beliefs or practices might have shifted during this era, the press release explained. Furthermore, archaeologists found a paved area for grain processing and animal enclosures, indicating that Imet had a developed local economy and religious belief system. Archaeologists uncovered artifacts that supported this developing portrait of the Delta center as a prospering community in Ancient Egypt. They highlighted 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. With these pieces, archaeologists have begun to understand one of Ancient Egypt's 'forgotten cities,' as the statement concluded, giving them new insights into the ancient empire towards the end of its reign, the statement concluded.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Science
- 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.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Science
- The Sun
Lost 2,400-year-old city uncovered by archaeologists with multi-storey buildings and temple dedicated to cobra goddess
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. 5 5 5 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". 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 26 th 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
