A joint Egyptian-Chinese archaeological mission has uncovered the remains of an ancient residential complex, a possible wine press and a collection of artefacts near the Temple of Sekhmet at Mit Rahina, providing new evidence of everyday life in the ancient city of Memphis across several historical periods.
The mission, a collaboration between Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Shanghai Museum in China, made the discoveries during archaeological work at the Temple of Sekhmet and its surrounding area.
Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, welcomed the discoveries and praised the archaeological partnership between Egypt and China, describing the two countries as heirs to two of the world’s oldest civilisations.
Fathy said the mission reflected the depth of Egyptian-Chinese relations and represented an important aspect of bilateral cooperation in archaeology, which includes several joint projects and archaeological missions.
Excavations Around the Temple of Sekhmet
Dr Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the mission began by cleaning and documenting the Temple of Sekhmet, which formed part of the wider complex of the Great Temple of Ptah at ancient Memphis.
Excavations were subsequently extended into the surrounding areas to establish how the site developed and was used during different periods of Egyptian history.
Among the most significant discoveries were stone architectural elements and fragments of statues, some of which are thought to have originally belonged to the Great Temple of Ptah, the principal temple of Memphis.
Excavations east of the Temple of Sekhmet also revealed a stone installation that archaeologists believe may have been used for pressing grapes and producing wine.
The installation consists of an upper basin sloping southwards towards a central opening and a lower basin apparently designed to collect or store liquid. Openings associated with the installation may have been used to secure amphorae or other vessels. The discovery of grape seeds inside the structure has strengthened the interpretation that it was connected with winemaking.
Artefacts Spanning Centuries of Settlement
The mission also uncovered stone blocks and fragments of statues, many dating to Egypt’s New Kingdom, particularly the reign of Ramesses II.
The objects were made from several types of stone, including granite, and were found alongside pottery fragments, small terracotta and stone figurines, ostraca and other archaeological material.
Mohamed Abdel Badie, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the discoveries provide evidence for continued human occupation of the area from the Third Intermediate Period and Late Period through the Ptolemaic and Roman eras.
The findings suggest that life continued in this part of Memphis even after the temple’s importance as a major religious centre had diminished. Parts of the area were subsequently adapted for residential use, offering archaeologists new insights into the transformation of the ancient city over time.
The discovery of residential remains alongside evidence of food and drink production could help researchers develop a clearer picture of the daily lives and economic activities of people who inhabited the area during its later phases.
Mission to Continue Excavations
The Egyptian-Chinese mission is led by Dr Reham Zaki, head of scientific affairs at the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and Dr Chen Jie, deputy director of the Shanghai Museum.
A joint team of Egyptian and Chinese specialists will continue excavating and documenting the Temple of Sekhmet and its surroundings during forthcoming archaeological seasons.
Researchers hope the continuing work will reveal further details about the temple’s architecture while helping establish how settlement patterns in this part of ancient Memphis changed over successive historical periods.
Temple First Discovered in 1959
The Temple of Sekhmet was discovered accidentally in 1959 during construction work on a house in the area, when archaeological remains belonging to the structure came to light.
Egyptian antiquities inspector Mohamed Abdel-Tawab Al-Hatta subsequently conducted excavations at the site during the 1961–62 season.
In 2015, surviving archaeological features were documented as part of a project focused on the management of the ancient Memphis site and its surrounding community.
The Egyptian-Chinese mission later launched the first new excavations at the temple and its surrounding area since the work carried out in the early 1960s.
Alongside excavation, the team is conducting detailed architectural documentation intended to build a more comprehensive understanding of the Temple of Sekhmet, the communities that lived around it and the changing role of this important area within ancient Memphis over the centuries.
Sources : Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities
