Manchester researchers help to uncover ancient Egyptian city

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Manchester researchers help to uncover ancient Egyptian city

Archaeologists from The University of Manchester have played a leading role in the rediscovery of the ancient city of Imet in Egypt's eastern Nile Delta, uncovering multi-storey dwellings, granaries and a ceremonial road tied to the worship of the cobra goddess Wadjet.

The excavations at Tell el-Fara'in (also known as Tell Nabasha) are part of a joint Egyptian-British mission with the University of Sadat City in Cairo, directed by Dr Nicky Nielsen of The University of Manchester. By combining remote sensing with on-the-ground archaeology, the team has begun to transform understanding of the urban, religious and economic life of this city in the Nile Delta during the 4th century BC.

Using high-resolution satellite imagery, Dr Nielsen and his team identified clusters of ancient mudbricks prior to excavation. This approach led to the discovery of dense architectural remains, including substantial tower houses - multi-storey buildings supported by exceptionally thick foundation walls, which were designed to accommodate a growing population in an increasingly urbanised Delta region.

"These tower houses are mainly found in the Nile Delta between the Late Period and the Romanj 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.

Elsewhere, excavators found a large building with a limestone plaster floor and massive pillars dating to the mid-Ptolemaic Period. This building was built across the processional road which once connected to the temple of Wadjet - the city's patron deity. This ceremonial route appears to have fallen out of use by the mid-Ptolemaic period, offering insight into shifting religious landscapes in ancient Egypt.

Artefacts from the site reflect a vibrant spiritual culture. Highlights include 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.

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• Stela

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The University of Manchester's involvement continues to shape global narratives of Egypt's forgotten cities, bringing the ancient Delta back into view one discovery at a time.