During the deployment of novel scanning apparatus in Egypt’s northwestern Nile Delta, archaeological investigators have identified an enigmatic edifice situated beneath the remnants of an ancient urban center.
This historical settlement has borne numerous designations throughout its near six-millennia existence. Initially christened Per-Wadjet by the ancient Egyptians, acknowledging its significance as a sanctuary dedicated to the serpentine deity Wadjet, it was subsequently named Buto during the period of ancient Greek dominion, commencing in 305 BCE. Presently, the locale of its vestiges is known by the Arabic appellation Tell el-Fara’in, translating to ‘Hill of the Pharaohs’.
The extensive chronology of this city witnessed the erection, demolition, and subsequent reconstruction of its edifices until its eventual decline into disrepair around the 7th century CE.
The accumulated strata of materials deposited by Buto’s succession of inhabitants render it an area of keen interest for archaeological exploration. Nevertheless, challenges such as alluvial deposits, subterranean water levels, and the sheer scale and depth of the site have rendered conventional excavation methods somewhat formidable.
By leveraging contemporary technological advancements, specifically satellite radar and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), a research contingent spearheaded by Dr. Mohamed Abouarab, an archaeologist affiliated with Kafrelsheikh University in Egypt, has succeeded in penetrating these subsurface layers to ascertain the potential value of further excavation.
Utilizing imagery procured via the Sentinel-1 radar satellite in 2018, the research group pinpointed substantial surface anomalies at the site, indicative of potential subterranean constructions meriting closer scrutiny.
Following the identification of fifteen promising candidates for profiling at a location designated as Kom C, the team proceeded with the ERT methodology. They strategically positioned twenty-four stainless steel electrodes along a sixty-nine-meter (two hundred twenty-six-foot) cable inserted into the earth at each area of interest.
These electrodes facilitate the transmission of electrical currents into the ground, and the subsequent measurement of resistance or conductivity encountered by these currents provides insights into the subsurface composition – akin to a large-scale subterranean computed tomography scan.
This investigative procedure yielded one thousand three hundred thirty-two resistivity readings across the Kom C sector, revealing the presence of an intriguing, partially submerged mudbrick structure, approximately twenty-five by twenty meters (eighty-two by sixty-five feet) in dimension. This edifice was situated at a depth of three to six meters below the surface, beneath accumulated layers of fractured pottery and debris dating from the later Roman and Ptolemaic periods, spanning roughly 332 BCE to 395 CE.
“The application of three-dimensional inversion algorithms proved exceptionally effective in defining buried mudbrick walls and architectural features, thereby substantially augmenting our comprehension of the site’s formation dynamics,” the research team reports.
Subsequent excavation activities corroborated the discoveries made through the scanning process. The structure is estimated to be approximately two thousand six hundred years old, placing its construction within the Saite period: the twenty-sixth and concluding dynasty of ancient Egyptian sovereignty prior to the Achaemenid Persian invasion in 525 BCE.
The archaeologists unearthed the mudbrick fortifications, accompanied by a collection of amulets and other artifacts from the 26th dynasty. Notably, these included a peculiar hybrid effigy that incorporated elements of a baboon, a falcon, and the Patikos, a deity depicted as a dwarf.
Additional amulets bore representations of more widely recognized ancient Egyptian divine figures, such as Isis, Horus, Taweret, and, fittingly, Wadjet, the patron goddess of Buto.
Given the prevalence of these sacred objects, the archaeological team posits that the structure likely served a devotional purpose.
“The presence of amulets, an altar, and other ritualistic accoutrements suggests that the site may have functioned as a temple, a complex dedicated to religious services, potentially including funerary rites, or as a residence for priestly staff,” they articulate.
“Nevertheless, definitively ascertaining the precise role of these edifices remains a challenge at this juncture. A more comprehensive understanding of their nature is anticipated to emerge as excavations continue in subsequent seasons.”
This initial application of the scanning technique has proven highly successful, and Dr. Abouarab and his cohort intend to extend its deployment to investigate deeper strata of the site.
“The outcomes of this investigation underscore the efficacy of integrating geophysical data acquisition with remote sensing information, which provided a remarkably precise depiction of buried settlements within a complex geographical context,” the team concludes.
“Our findings lead us to infer that, in addition to the previously identified temple, another sacred structure may lie concealed beneath a substantial clay deposit, which will be the subject of extensive investigation through comprehensive measurements in forthcoming research endeavors.”
