Conny Waters - AncientPages.com - A German-Egyptian archaeologist excavating in El Matareya (Old Heliopolis) has discovered remains of several industrial workshops dating from the sixth century to the second century BC.
Many reused objects were found in the workshops, which represent parts of the various temple elements.
As Newsweek reports the archaeologists found remnants of a temple to Nekhtenbo I—a ruler from Egyptian antiquity—as well as royal statues believed to be far older.
The statues date back to Egypt’s 18th Dynasty. That was the first dynastic period of Egypt’s New Kingdom, when the ancient civilization reached its apotheosis. The era spanned from 1549 to 1292 B.C., which means the statues are at least 3,300 years old.
Additionally the archaeologists unearthed, a building from the Ptolemaic period containing bread baking ovens according to Dr. Aiman Ashmawy, the head of the Egyptian antiquities sector and the Head of Egyptian side of the Mission.
As for the area of the Temple of Nectanebo I, Dr. Dietrich Raue, the head of the mission, said that a group of basalt blocks were found that show inscriptions representing the nomes of Lower Egypt during Nectanebo I’s reign, reports Luxor Times.
Other blocks of red granite were used in Nectanebo I’s temple as well as limestone blocks were parts of a chapel.
The discovery also include several parts of statues and architectural elements which may refer to the existence of a previous older temple related to the reign of King Merneptah.
Site of excavations, Old Heliopolis, Cairo. Credits: Egypt’s Ministry for Antiquities
Area 251 is a newly excavated site to the south-western side of the area, where the mission discovered a thick mud-brick wall extending from north to south. The discovered wall width measures 4.4 meters and covered with a layer of white mortar.
To the west of the wall, any parts of inscribed stones were unearthed including a quartz block bears an inscription showing Akhenaten in the form of a sphinx raising his arm and part of a plate depicting an “ear”, as well as two columns tops.
The mission also discovered 12 Ramesside burials at the site.
Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
