Archaeology of Lower Egypt

Tell Amya

The surface of this site is covered with Roman pottery and fragments of fired bricks, which give a very red appearance to the mound. The edges have been dug for sebakh and turned over. A granite millstone was seen on the south side. This site is smaller than the nearby Tell Qabrit, being 460m by 320m in size and reaching a height of around 8m to the highest point. The general shape and appearance of the site suggest that it has been cleared away from the east and west towards the central area, which was left standing as an elevated ridge. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 249

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Tell Qabrit

A site of the Roman Period, quite low, rising about 4m above the level of the surrounding fields. It measures 875m (east-west) by 757m (north-south). The eastern to southern sides of the mound are relatively level on the top, running down to the edges in a gentle slope. The northern and west sides of Tell Qabrit are more uneven and undulate in a series of small hillocks and mounds. The surface is covered with pieces of Roman pottery and fired bricks. There are remains of Late Roman buildings, including a church. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 250.

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Tell el-Farain (Buto)

Major archaeological site, location of the ancient city of Buto. Well-known sites like this one have a long history of exploration and are not a priority for the EES Delta Survey, although an extensive bibliography is provided (follow the Read more... link). Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 4.

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Tell Mikheizin

The edges of this small site have been cut by ploughing. A few fired bricks lie on the surface, also glass fragments, bronze coins and redware sherds. Outlines of buried mud brick buildings are visible. The satellite image from 2007 shows the mound is cut by a modern compound with a surrounding wall at the south, which was not there when the site was visited in 1990. The main surviving part lies south of the tarmac road, but a small portion is present on the north-west side. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 266.

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Kom el-Fuqa

The site is a large sprawling sitel, with soft dirt on the surface in most areas and some firmer sections, particularly the centre. The sides of the mound are gently sloping, with a low ridge on the eastern side enclosing a lower flatter area of land. The sides have been cut by the adjacent fish farms. Two fragments of granite grinding stones were noted lying on the site. Pottery indicates a date from the Roman Period and later. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 254.

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Kom Deibi

There is a modern town here and a 8-9m high cemetery mound, 200m long, which must be what was once part of the older site. The cemetery site has two tombs on it: Sheikh Fatallah and Abu Shushu. There is a new school built on the western side. The site wasn’t mapped but a small sherd collection was made here. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 625.

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Sa el-Hagar (Sais)

A major archaeological site, location of the ancient city of Sais. This has been investigated by a joint expedition of the University of Durham and the Egypt Exploration Society. An extensive bibliography is available (follow the Read more... link). Sais was greatly expanded in the 7th century BC and embellished with numerous temples, the main one dedicated to the goddess Neith. Only scattered stone blocks remain of these temples today, but many sculptures from the site are to be found in museums.

Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 13.

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Kom Mutubis

This site, also known as Kom el-Ahmar ('the red mound'), is still of huge size despite the removal of one side for landfill in the past. The low area of the removed section has Roman limestone coffins lying in the ground. Fired brick features protrude from the cut edge of the mound. The top is covered by thin vegetation, but Late Roman pottery fragments and an Islamic coin were seen. Mapped by P Wilson for the Delta Survey in 2002 and drill-cores taken.

Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 212

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Kom el-Geif (Naukratis)

Major archaeological site, location of the ancient city of Naukratis, centre for Greek trade in the 6th century BC. Much fine Greek imported pottery was found here. Well-known sites like this one have a long history of exploration and are not a priority for the EES Delta Survey, although an extensive bibliography is provided (follow the Read more... link). Naukratis is however the focus of a major British Museum project.

Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 17.

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Kom el-Barud

Archaeological site. A low sandy mound with Ptolemaic to Late Roman remains. Tested by the American Naukratis project in 1982. Remains of red brick structures and a mosaic floor (1980). Late Roman pottery mostly third to fourth centuries AD; some down to the seventh century. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 295.

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Kom Firin

This is one of the largest surviving mounds of the west delta, with a long history of occupation. Neal Spencer is directing survey and excavation at the site for the British Museum. A modern map has been made and a combination of magnetometry and excavation has located the foundations of the Ramesside temple, within a buttressed enclosing wall. The inscribed jamb on the right came from this temple.

Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 294.

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Kom Hamrit

This grass-covered site, north-west of Abu el-Zarazir, presents more elevated topography at its southern limits. An open, west-facing, section revealed some mud-brick structural remains founded on a sandy stratum. One fragment of fired brick was noted on the surface; a fragment of unworked limestone was noted at its northern edge. No distinctive pottery was visible on the surface. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 638.

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Kom el-Shimuli

A grass-covered kom, with gentle undulating topography. Small amounts of fired- and mud-brick fragments were noted on the surface, but no structural remains were visible. The surface of the mound was littered with coarse-ware amphora bases, handles and body sherds, including some late Roman and Coptic examples, the latter with painted red decoration on a buff slip. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 442.

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Kom el-Ghuzz

Archaeological site, mostly levelled to cultivation. The original extent shows in the field-pattern and has been outlined in yellow. Only some small mounds survive at the position of the placemark and also at the east side of the area. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 609.

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El Kom el-Ahmar

A site of about 175 x 125m, covered with broken pieces of Roman pottery, including many sherds from thick-walled late Roman ribbed storage vessels; also small carinated bowls in burnished black ware, and large amphora spikes. Transparent glass bottle neck fragments were also noted. A pink granite column base lies near the centre of the northern part of the mound; a fair amount of limestone chippings were observed in the immediate vicinity. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 440.

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Kom el-Ahmar

Due east of village named Ezbet Kom el-Ahmar, the original extent of this site is now very unclear: a large lake to the south may indicate the location of a now-destroyed area. The remainder of the mound has been reduced almost to the level of the surrounding fields. Surface pottery included many body sherds, spikes and handles from late Roman amphora fragments, particularly in an open section at the northern edge of the site. An abandoned mud-brick structure in the centre of the site, badly eroded but with walls standing to almost their original height, is probably a modern building. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 443.

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Kom el-Bus

Inspected for the Delta Survey in 2005. The village of Kom el-Bus is situated upon the archaeological mound, with the cemetery in the centre on the highest part, up to 4m above the surrounding fields. There were a few pottery sherds embedded in the surface of the mound and part of the western side of the mound was cut away, showing some stratigraphy. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 431.

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Kom Khalig

A low sandy mound about 2-3m above the surrounding fields, about 100m across. Parts of the surface are covered in darker dry mud and low scrub, while in other places sand is predominant. There was some pottery on the surface of the mound. No features could be discerned, but at one side there was a fragment of a red brick wall in the side of drainage ditch. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 429.

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Kom Turuga

Identified as the ancient Psenemphaia. A Graeco-Roman site with some surviving stone and brick foundations from substantial architecture. At the north is a modern village with an adjoining cemetery. Amongst the structures at the site is part of a pavement left standing upon its sandy brick foundation and a pillar of earth; red brick and plastered tanks (perhaps for the production of wine or oil) and a part of a limestone wall. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 303.

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Tell Abu el-Gudur

Once an extensive site, now reduced to some low sandy mounds covered in scrub. The highest mound is only about 2-3m above the level of the road. The flat area to the south and east is very extensive but it is not clear if this was always part of the site. There was Roman pottery on the mound and perhaps some other earlier material. A stirrup ring made of bronze and a bronze three-flanged arrowhead were noted. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 406.

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Kom el-Qubur (Maqaboura)

Originally called Kom el-Qubur, the modern name of this site is Kom Maqaboura. It consists of a low mound rising 3-4m above the level of the fields. There is a secondary mound to the east which may have been part of the original larger site. The fields to the south of the mound contain noticeable quantities of pottery and some limestone fragments, again suggesting this was once a more sizeable mound. The pottery here, of Roman date, consisted of fine wares, domestic material and amphorae. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 399.

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Kom Mahar

The main part of this site consists of a 10-12m high mound at the north, covered in pottery. To the south west, the lower slopes of the mound have a modern cemetery built on them and the south-east area of the site is dug out and flattened. A section cut out of the north-western side shows limestone blocks and remains of walls made of mud bricks. There are also some fragments of red granite on the mound and a noticeable amount of glass is mixed in with the pottery, among which are some fine wares such as African Red Slip. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 398.

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Kom el-Qadi

Satellite imagery of 2005 shows a group of four small mounds south of the village, the largest occupied by some housing, the other three clear. The most easterly mound has been reduced to a square shape by advance of the cultivation and measures only 70 x 50m. The larger mound was visited for the EES Survey in 2005. The main archaeological area is a high mound of around 8m whose southern and northern faces have been cut away to form sheer sections. The southern sections show sandy brick walls, pottery deposits and human burials in both pottery coffins and brick vaults. On the east side there is a substantial mud brick wall. Within the village there is a bath-house which has been restored recently. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 396.

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Kom el-Hagg

The fields to the south of the main mound at this location are covered in potttery fragments and must be considered as part of the antiquities area, perhaps a settlement or building up against the rocky outcrop. It is now surrounded by a small village and the whole site is about 120m north-south by 200m east-west. The main interest of this site is the nature of the geological formation here like that at Kom Ishu. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 358.

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Sidi Yusef

Visited for the EES Survey in 2005: the site lies beside the main Alexandria - Cairo road on its northern side. A short dirt track leads to it from the road and to the south lies the main railway line. It is marked on the Survey of Egypt map as lying either side of the main road, but the southern side is not apparent. The small hill is covered in a cemetery with the tomb of Sheikh Yusef at the top, recently restored with concrete. East of the site is a small area of waste land with sherds and brick fragments on the surface and in the sides of a ditch. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 647.

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Kom Ganadi

The remaining site here is underneath a cemetery attached to a village, with an area where animals are stabled between them. The actual mound is about 2m high and the whole site measures around 50 by 140 m. There was very little pottery lying on the surface of either the cemetery or village, but some was recovered from the ditch around the site. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 617.

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Kom el-Awad

This site consists of a flat area with three main small mounds. The highest mound is about 6-7m above the level of the fields and is best seen from the south where there is a section containing a considerable amount of pottery and also some burials in pottery coffins. The satellite view is just on the edge of an area of low resolution imagery. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 637.

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Kom el-Hamam

The site, next to the village of Karyun, is part of a concession for the Göttingen Mission (2004), together with Kom el Giza (EES no. 369). A substantial red brick structure lies in the German excavations, consisting of a great number of large square piers with red brick bases capped with limestone in mortar; also elements of unfired brick structural elements; and a cistern. To the west there is another red brick structure in a field which must be part of the original site. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 368.

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Kom el-Giza

Archaeological site identified with Chaireou/Schedia, modern El-Karyun. A large mound cut into isolated parts by the advance of agriculture and of the village. Satellite imagery shows the original extent, which seems to have included much of the area under the town, a long zone to the east as far as the canal, and another area southwards beyond the canal on that side. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 369.

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Kom Difshu

Kom Difshu is a large archaeological area with several distinct zones, but most of it is underneath a modern cemetery. The main area is a mound sloping gently up to the north-west with a high point of about 10-12m above the level of the fields. It is covered with modern tombs. To the south of the modern cemetery is a flat and sandy area, about 1-2m above the cultivation-level. At the south-western side there are pottery coffins buried about 1m below the surface, indicating the location of an ancient cemetery. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 624.

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Tell el-Kanayis

This site probably includes an area under the village, where pottery fragments have been seen and also the two low mounds beyond the village. either side of a canal. The mound nearest the village was an old cemetery whose tombs were almost all removed. A few pottery fragments were noticeable on the ground and a fragment of a quartzite mortar with lug handles was found on the surface. The second mound was overbuilt by a functioning cemetery. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 376.

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Kom ed-Dahab

One of the many sites with this name, this small mound is located in the fish farms of ‘Lake’ Edku and is visible from the main new road running from Rosetta to Alexandria. The site is roughly circular, with a central mound of about 4m high and a crescent shaped ridge on the northern side. The original greater extent of the mound can be seen on the satellite imagery. There is a good amount of pottery, including African Red Slip ware, on the surface and red brick fragments. The whole area is covered in Late Antique Roman pottery and glass. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 635.

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Kom et-Tarfaya

This site is now under a village of the same name. It is on the edge of the Edku Marsh area and a series of fish farms. No pottery collection was made here. Drill-cores taken in 2005 confirmed the marshy nature of the older ground. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 224.

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Kom el-Daba North

This is a small site containing some burials in pottery coffins. It has been encroached upon at the sides and was once clearly more extensive. On the eastern side where the mound has been cut away a number of graves are visible. They consist of burials in pottery coffins (see picture), large pots and also brick built vaults. Red brick fragments occur as well as Roman pottery on the surface. To the north of the site there are fish farms and immediately to the south is the site of Kom ed-Daba South [613]. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 612.

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Kom el-Daba South

This is a mound some 450 metres across and at its highest point about 8m high. To the south-western side there is a cleared flat area which may once have been part of the original mound, but seems to be being brought under agriculture. Outlines of ancient houses can be seen on the north-eastern side of the mound near the top. The surface is evenly covered in Roman potsherds and red brick fragments. To the north of the site is Kom ed-Daba North [612]. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 613.

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Kom Aziza

The archaeological site at Kom Aziza has been split in two by a canal and road, leaving the village and its mosque on the south side of the road and the sandy mound on the north. A new school was built on this side. The sandy surface has some pottery sherds pressed into the surface and on the north side, more Roman pottery is visible in the section, including the bases of intact vessels, which seem to be in situ. Some mud brick walls are also visible in a section at the edge of the mound. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 626.

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Kom el-Nuss el Kebir

The site has been cut by previous earth-removal into five main mounds with an excavated area in the centre. The north east mound rises about 10m above the level of the fields and is now covered by a modern cemetery. Some of the pottery here seems to be Hellenistic. The central mound has a solid texture like mud brick is around 8-9m in height. The other three main mounds are more sloping in nature and have varying amounts of pottery, glass and red brick debris covering the surfaces. Satellite imagery of the area is currently low-resolution, but the site is very apparent. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 286.

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Sersana

Sersana is within Markaz el-Shuhada and the archaeological area is surrounded by buildings, which have encroached on the site since SCA excavations began in 1994. The base of a statue of Harpocrates in the Alexandria Museum came from this site. The area excavated between 1994 and 1998 suggests a Roman centre of some size, and during the excavations Roman coins, amphorae, bowls and lamps were found. There are Roman baths at the site and the excavated area includes a hypocaust. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 640.

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Kom Abu Billo

A major archaeological site, location of the ancient city of Terenuthis. Well-known sites like this one have a long history of exploration and are not a priority for the EES Delta Survey, although an extensive bibliography is provided (follow the Read more... link). Ths site possessed a Ptolemaic temple and was later a major centre of Graeco-Roman occupation. Many tombstones of mixed Egyptian and Graeco-Roman tradition have been found here.

Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 56.

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Kom Manous

The large site originally called Kom Manous is now overbuilt by the town of Zawiyet Razin. Visited for the EES survey in 2005. Many ancient stone architectural elements have been re-used in the town. A possible Late Period column drum, re-used as a millstone, was seen in the road (picture) in addition to numerous other limestone blocks re-used in the village. Pharaonic remains were found here by Daressy in 1912. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 43.

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Kafr el-Ashiri

Kom el-Ashiri was visited by the EES survey in 2005. The village covers an area of 200 feddans, including the fields. In the past there were two mounds, one where the houses are now, another where the tombs are, where pottery bowls and plates have been found, in addition to small statues of stone. The observed pottery was Late Roman in date. Daressy noted the alternative name for this mound as Kom Barhim, which is how it appears on old maps. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 40.

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Kom Abu Zeid

The site is covered by a modern cemetery, the middle of which is at a level about 1.5m above the surrounding land. The oldest tomb is about 200 years old and made of mud-brick. Below this tomb a section showed red brick which may be Roman. The placemark is on the path by the village, leading west to the cemetery. Potsherds were observed in a visible section in the cemetery. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 643.

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Kom el-Tawil

Archaeological site levelled to fields. The yellow line traces the original extent of the ancient site, evident from the field boundaries. The only surviving area of the site is that covered by the small modern cemetery on the west side, where the placemark has been positioned. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 37.

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Queisna

A large sand mound containing ancient remains dating from the Ramesside period to Roman. Under investigation by J. Rowland, for the Delta Survey. Several areas have been excavated by the SCA, including a brick-built Ptolemaic/Late Period Mausoleum comprising brick vaulted tombs with stone sarcophagi. A second area contains Roman burials in various types of pottery coffin; some are lying on the surface in the area where they were originally excavated, with the possibility that further coffins lie below. A third area is a Bird Mausoleum, marked by badly eroded walls where a burial area for mummified falcons was set up. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 639.

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Tell Atrib

A major archaeological site, location of the ancient city of Athribis. Well-known sites like this one have a long history of exploration and are not a priority for the EES Delta Survey, although an extensive bibliography is provided (follow the Read more... link). In the nineteenth century this site was vast, but most of it has since been overbuilt by the town of Benha. Many objects are known to have come from the site, like the statue shown here. A Polish expedition has been working here for many years.

Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 56.

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Tell el-Moqdam

Major archaeological site, location of the ancient city of Leontopolis. Well-known sites like this one have a long history of exploration and are not a priority for the EES Delta Survey, although an extensive bibliography is provided (follow the Read more... link). The satellite imagery of this area is currently (2007) low resolution. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 66.

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Tell el-Yahudiya

Formerly a huge archaeological mound, as shown in the archive photograph, this site was seriously damaged by the activities of the sebbakhin with the consequent destruction of much archaeological evidence. Site of temples of Ramesses II and III, together with a palace complex of the latter king. This destroyed monument is chiefly known from the many faience tiles in museums which once decorated its chambers. The west half of the mound has been levelled. The main mound is flanked to the NE by a road, on the other side of which is an outlying mound of 370 x 340m. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 311.

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Tell Basta

Major archaeological site, location of the ancient city of Bubastis. Well-known sites like this one have a long history of exploration and are not a priority for the EES Delta Survey, although an extensive bibliography is provided (follow the Read more... link). The top view shows the ruins of the temple of the cat-goddess Bastet, in which a festival hall was built by King Osorkon II (right).

Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 220.

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Minshat Ezzat

Site of a Late Predynastic to Early Dynastic cemetery under cultivated land on the south side of the village. Small tombs of mud brick, most with one or two chambers, but a few larger ones with multiple storage-rooms. Many contracted burials, even in the First Dynasty tombs. Much pottery in store-chambers at ends of burial chamber, particularly rounded redware jars and tall wine-jars, some with potmarks. SCA began excavation in 1999 at the site. Finds of stone vases, flint knives (one with serekh of Den), decorated mudstone palette showing mythical animals with necks intertwined. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 504.

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Behbeit el-Hagar

Major archaeological site, location of the ancient city of Iseum with ruins of a temple of Isis. Well-known sites like this one have a long history of exploration and are not included in the research of the EES Delta Survey. The satellite imagery here is unfortunately low-resolution. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 83.

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Yetwal wa Yuksur

Ancient site north of modern El-Masara, formerly called Tell Kurdud. The low, undulating mound rises gradually towards the south. Fragments from granite columns, badly weathered, perhaps from a church, lie on the ground. The site is extensive and in moderately good conditon. On the east edge is a small village with a few modern tombs at the south-east. Noted by Edgar in 1907 as having Coptic pottery, fired bricks and glass fragments on the surface. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 307.

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Tell er-Ruba

Major archaeological site, location of the ancient city of Mendes. Well-known sites like this one have a long history of exploration and are not included in the research of the EES Delta Survey, although an extensive bibliography is provided (follow the Read more... link). Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 178.

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Tell Temai el-Amdid

Major archaeological site, location of the ancient city of Thmuis, developed in Roman times south of the city of Mendes. Well-known sites like this one have a long history of exploration and are not included in the research of the EES Delta Survey, although an extensive bibliography is provided (follow the Read more... link). Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 179.

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Tell Samara

Archaeological site, partly overbuilt by modern graves. Contains ancient tombs from the Predynastic period to the Old Kingdom. Excavations by Inspector Salem Baghdadi in 2000 found mud-brick tombs of the Archaic Period. A clay seal-impression with the name of an official, Itjet, was found, with pottery and stone vases of typical 1st - 2nd dynasty types. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 175.

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Tell el-Khirba

Archaeological site clear of modern structures. A small mound cut down from a former larger one, the mound is oval with a sharp slope to the west, but sinks more gradually to the east. Two areas show powdered red-bricks (destroyed modern graves ?); the rest is dark black mud. N and S ends covered by vegetation. Finds: Surface density is low to medium, mostly potsherds, but also bronze pin, bell pendant, shell, small glass fragments, coins and flints. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 174.

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Tell ed-Daba

Archaeological site, reduced in size by agricultural encroachment. Old excavation trenches are visible. Formerly known as Tell Qanan. Visited by the EES Delta Survey in 1990: the large low mound rises up to 3m above field level behind the village of Ezbet es-Shurafa. There are a few weathered modern graves on the low slope at the south. Few red bricks on surface, with coarse silt pottery and pieces of quartzite and siltstone. Excavations by Hamdi Yusef found Roman pottery in upper level and Old Kingdom burials at greater depth. Later seasons produced Late Predynastic and Archaic pottery and stone vases from graves. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 172.

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Tell Balasun

This site was noted in 1898 as being very large, but it is now reduced to a high core of mud-brick walls and fill, with a lower surrounding area. Some of the fill lies at about 45 degrees and consists of ancient rubbish-dumps. Core covers about 150 x 150m and rises 10m, periphery only 1-2m. There are two main high mounds linked by a narrow ridge. Few glass fragments, small potsherds on SE mound of Late Period and Graeco-Roman, many small shells. No red bricks. Part of S edge dug out for a fish-farm. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 322.

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Tell el-Burashiya

Excavations in progress in 1996 by Chief Inspector Atef Abu el-Dahap of Damietta office: revealed Late Roman mud-brick and fired-brick buildings, including a large bath-house with fired brick wells and conduits, and some drains of linked amphorae. Walls of large square buildings visible as surface traces in the south part of mound. Pottery of Late Roman/ Coptic and early Islamic periods, from 1st to 12th centuries AD. Some burials with Greek inscriptions on thin gold foil. Few pieces of re-used Ptolemaic masonry with hieroglyphs, but might have been brought from elsewhere. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 320.

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Tell el-Balamun

One of the largest surviving sites in the Delta on the ruins of the ancient Egyptian city of Smabehdet, known in the New Kingdom as Paiuenamun. Survey and excavation by the British Museum since 1991 has located temple foundations of Sheshonk III, Psamtik I and Nekhtnebef, all dated by foundation-deposits. The temple site lies on the south part of the mound and is surrounded by enclosure walls of dynasties 26 and 30. Tomb of a Lower Egyptian Vizier named Iken, dating from the reign of Osorkon I, found in 1998 and other elite tombs of Dynasty 22 were discovered in the following year at the front of the Ramesside temple of Amun. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 148.

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Tell Halbouny

The original name of this site was Tell el-Hagar, but it is now known locally Tell Halbouny from the name of the adjacent village. Visited for the EES survey in April 2007. The surface of the mound is covered by deep layers of straw and other agricultural material, which conceals and surface features. At the south end the mound has been tested by the SCA with rows of small trenches, visible on the satellite image. This work was done in preparation for release of the land for a waste-processing plant, but this has not yet been constructed. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 147.

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Tell ed-Deir

A sandy mound with red-brick structures of Late Roman - Coptic age. Many coins said to have been found. North part of site cut by development of New Damietta, but remainder protected. Cultivation and fish-farms encroaching from the south and west. Roman limestone coffins found in the sandy environs of the site. Highest part at south, with low-lying areas to three sides, especially at the north, where there are standing pools of salt water. Late Roman sherds and glass. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 150.

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Tell el-Gassa

The mound lies in Lake Menzala and is encircled by reeds. The surface is covered with Late Roman sherds, including fragments of Cypriote Red Slip Ware and coarseware amphorae. Also glass fragments and some small blocks of limestone. Visible traces of buried mud-brick walls on surface. Roman finds: coins, pottery and red-brick features. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 474

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Tell el-Naggarein

Two adjacent archaeological mounds in reclaimed land, although they were probably part of a single site. Visible traces of buried brick walls, surface Roman sherds and red bricks. The site may have been a suburb of nearby Tell Ibwan (Delta Survey 547), a short distance to the west and visible on the satellite image. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 487

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San el-Hagar (Tanis)

A major archaeological site, location of the ancient city of Tanis. Well-known sites like this one have a long history of exploration and are not a priority for the EES Delta Survey, although an extensive bibliography is provided (follow the Read more... link). The ruins of the great temple at Tanis is still marked by inscribed blocks and fallen obelisks. Outside the temple area, houses of the Roman Period were dug by Flinders Petrie in 1883, in one of which the statue shown here was found. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 166.

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Tell Dibgu

A large dusty mound located close to the road which runs along the north side of the Ramses Drain. The low parts of the mound at the north and SW have been cut for fish-farms; at the south and SE are fields with crops. The mound has a high central part surrounded by extensive low and sandy areas, particularly wide at the west. The surface is covered with fired bricks, ceramic slag and fragments of glass. There are a few pieces of limestone and quartzite. Very few traces of building-lines are visible, only a few rectangular shapes on the low ground at the north were noted. Nothing earlier than the Graeco Roman Period was seen. Surface sherds were rarely visible owing to the deep and soft dust. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 167.

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Tell Sanhur

A very large and high mound with sandy surfaces, littered with fired bricks, ceramic slag and glass fragments. The site lies in an area of land-reclamation where large fish-farms have been established, and are being enlarged. The area immediately around the tell is devoted to regular forms of agriculture. The high core of the mound is surrounded by extensive low areas, which are being cut away for agriculture, especially at the north. Apart from a few limestone flakes and a large fragment of eroded red granite on the top, there was little stone visible on the site. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 197.

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Tell Ginn

A large archaeological site set in cultivated land. Visited for EES survey in 2001. The NE edge of the mound is only 1m above cultivation level and has been cut by new fields. There are elevated ridges along the north and south, with a lower area in the centre. At the SW it drops to a very low level. A few houses lie on the east edge. On top, two eroded red granite columns of Romano-Coptic age are visible and five circular granite millstones lie near the north side. Few sherds visible, those noted included a coarse rim of the 4th-5th century BC, a slipped rim of the Third Intermediate Period and a New-Kingdom bowl rim. The Munich survey of 1966 reported no surface sherds seen earlier than Middle Kingdom. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 296.

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Tell Amd

Also called Tell Soweida. An extensive mound with gradually sloping sides which rise to a height of about 8 metres above the cultivation. The highest part of the mound is surrounded by a wide area at a low level, bordered by fields on the north and west, and by a road on the south. The field boundaries are straight and appear to have encroached on the site. Some pieces of fired bricks and ceramic slag litter the surface. A few sherds noted were of Late Roman date, but few were visble in the powdery surface. A couple of robbers' pits in the high areas had thrown up a quantity of fired bricks. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 200.

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Tell Tinnis

Site of the Roman and medieval city of Tinnis. The archaeological mound lies in Lake Menzala not far from Port Said, and is encircled by reeds. The surface is covered with Late Roman sherds, glass fragments, fired bricks and fragments of stone. Architectural remains include parts of the city walls, a fort and numerous brick-built water cisterns. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 153

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Tell Belim

This site is identified with the ancient Herakleopolis parva. See the Lexikon der Agyptologie entry for this town and that for 'Sethroe', the name of the nome-capital in the Late Roman Period, thought to be identical with Tell Belim / Herakleopolis. There are two high points of the mound, the tallest of which rises nearly 12 metres above the surrounding land and consists of a dump containing Ptolemaic pottery. The size of the site is approximately 1000 x 500 metres, but was once much larger. At the west end of the site is a low area where a pharaonic temple was located. The site was mapped in September 2000 by the EES Delta Survey and the temple area excavated by the British Museum in Spring 2002. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 198

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Tell Dafana

Site of ancient Daphnae, a town established by Psamtik I in 650 BC. The site has been flattened by wind erosion and only two higher areas remain, rising 4-5 metres above the plain, consisting of the remaining brickwork of the Psamtik citadel, excavated by Flinders Petrie for the EES in 1885. Some very fine Greek pottery was found at the site, like the vessel on the right. This site is the focus of a major project by the British Museum. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 212.

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Tell Gumaiyima

Archaeological site, partly overbuilt by a modern village. Part excavated by Petrie and Griffith in 1886 for the Egypt Exploration Fund, with discovery of a temple and major finds of Ptolemaic glass. Mound bordered by fields to N and W; some settlement on the east side. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 186.

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Tell Farun

Site of the ancient city of Imet, consisting of three areas: the temple site, the town, and the cemetery. Former name Tell Nebesheh. Much of temple area clear, but some new buildings have been constructed on the mound. The naos of the small temple, photographed by Petrie relatively intact, is now reduced to a few fragments of granite (picture). The Third Intermediate Period and Late Period cemetery is overbuilt by Husseiniya town and has been the subject of many years of excavation by the SCA. Older graves of the New Kingdom, Middle Kingdom and Archaic Period have been found. Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 187.

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Qantir

Major archaeological site, location of the ancient city of Piramesse. Major excavations by Hildesheim Museum. Well-known sites like this one have a long history of exploration and are not included in the research of the EES Delta Survey, although an extensive bibliography is provided (follow the Read more... link). Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 192.

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Tell ed-Daba (Avaris)

Major archaeological site, location of the ancient city of Avaris. Location of long-term excavations by the Austrian Institute. Well-known sites like this one have a long history of exploration and are not included in the research of the EES Delta Survey, although an extensive bibliography is provided (follow the Read more... link). Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 494.

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Tell el-Maskhuta

A major archaeological site, location of the ancient city of Heroonpolis. Excavation by the Egypt Exploration Society in the nineteenth century revealed several sculptures, such as the triad of Ramesses II (above) and a statue of the priest Ankhrenepnefer (right, now in the British Museum). Well-known sites like this one have a long history of exploration and are not a priority for the EES Delta Survey, although an extensive bibliography is provided (follow the Read more... link).

Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 216.

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Tell er-Rotab

Major archaeological site, recently (2007) selected for investigation by a Polish expedition. Well-known sites like this one have a long history of exploration and are not a priority for the EES Delta Survey, although an extensive bibliography is provided (follow the Read more... link). Egypt Exploration Society Delta Survey no. 219.

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