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| Sources : Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities |
The discoveries are providing new evidence for how this part of Memphis was used across several historical periods, including its transformation from an important religious landscape into an area containing residential and other activities.
The mission is a collaboration between Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Shanghai Museum in China.
Excavations began with work at the Temple of Sekhmet and were subsequently expanded into the surrounding area, allowing researchers to investigate not only the temple itself but also the changing settlement patterns around it.
Excavations Around the Temple of Sekhmet
Dr Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the mission initially focused on cleaning and documenting the Temple of Sekhmet.
The temple formed part of the wider complex of the Great Temple of Ptah, the principal temple of ancient Memphis.
Researchers then extended excavations into areas surrounding the temple.
The aim was to determine how the site developed and how it was used during different periods of Egyptian history.
Among the discoveries were stone architectural elements and fragments of statues.
Some of these objects are believed to have originally belonged to the Great Temple of Ptah.
Their presence provides additional evidence for the architectural history of this important religious centre.
A Possible Ancient Wine Press
One of the most intriguing discoveries was made east of the Temple of Sekhmet.
Archaeologists uncovered a stone installation that may have been used for pressing grapes and producing wine.
The structure consists of an upper basin that slopes southward toward a central opening.
Below it is a second basin that appears to have been designed to collect or store liquid.
Openings associated with the installation may have been used to hold amphorae or other vessels.
An important clue came from the discovery of grape seeds inside the structure.
The presence of the seeds strengthens the interpretation that the installation was associated with winemaking.
However, the source describes it as a possible wine press rather than presenting its function as conclusively established.
Evidence of Everyday Life at Ancient Memphis
The discoveries extend beyond monumental architecture.
Archaeologists also recovered pottery fragments, small terracotta and stone figurines, ostraca and other archaeological material.
Stone blocks and statue fragments were found as well, with some objects dating to the New Kingdom, particularly the reign of Ramesses II.
The combination of monumental remains and more ordinary artefacts is particularly valuable because it allows researchers to investigate how people lived around the temple rather than focusing exclusively on Memphis's major religious buildings.
Residential remains could provide evidence about domestic life, while the possible wine press offers a glimpse into food and drink production.
Together, these discoveries can help reconstruct aspects of the economic and social activities that took place in this part of the ancient city.
Centuries of Continued Occupation
According to Mohamed Abdel Badie, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the archaeological evidence indicates continued human occupation of the area from the Third Intermediate Period and Late Period through the Ptolemaic and Roman eras.
This long sequence of occupation is significant.
It suggests that activity in the area did not simply end when the temple's role as a major religious centre diminished.
Instead, parts of the landscape were adapted for other purposes, including residential use.
The evidence therefore provides researchers with an opportunity to examine how an important part of Memphis changed over successive centuries.
From Sacred Space to Residential Area
Ancient cities were not static.
The discoveries near the Temple of Sekhmet illustrate how areas could acquire new functions as political, religious and economic circumstances changed.
A location associated with major religious institutions could later become integrated into ordinary settlement.
At Mit Rahina, the archaeological record now includes evidence for both monumental religious activity and later residential occupation.
The possible wine-making installation adds another dimension to this transformation.
If its interpretation is confirmed, it could provide evidence for food or beverage production taking place in the vicinity of the former temple complex.
The Temple of Sekhmet
The Temple of Sekhmet has its own long archaeological history.
The remains were discovered accidentally in 1959, when construction work on a house in the area revealed archaeological material belonging to the structure.
Egyptian antiquities inspector Mohamed Abdel-Tawab Al-Hatta subsequently carried out excavations during the 1961–62 season.
More than five decades later, in 2015, surviving archaeological features were documented as part of a project concerned with the management of ancient Memphis and its surrounding community.
The current Egyptian-Chinese mission represents the first new excavation at the temple and its surrounding area since the archaeological work conducted in the early 1960s.
Egyptian-Chinese Archaeological Cooperation
The project also reflects growing archaeological cooperation between Egypt and China.
Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy welcomed the discoveries and highlighted the broader relationship between the two countries.
The mission is jointly 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.
Egyptian and Chinese specialists are working together on excavation, documentation and archaeological research.
The partnership is expected to continue through future archaeological seasons.
What Researchers Hope to Discover Next
The excavation team plans to continue investigating the Temple of Sekhmet and surrounding areas.
Future work will focus on documenting the temple's architecture while also examining how settlement patterns changed through different periods of Memphis's history.
Researchers hope that additional excavations will clarify the relationship between the temple, residential areas and other installations.
Further discoveries may also help establish the precise function of the stone installation interpreted as a possible wine press.
Why the Discovery Matters
Memphis was an important ancient Egyptian centre, and the new excavations are significant because they focus not only on monumental remains but also on the people and activities surrounding them.
The residential complex provides evidence for domestic occupation.
The possible wine press may represent food and drink production.
Pottery, figurines, ostraca and other finds offer additional clues about daily activity.
Meanwhile, architectural fragments and statues connect the area with the monumental religious landscape of the Great Temple of Ptah.
Together, these discoveries reveal a place that changed considerably over time.
Conclusion
A joint Egyptian-Chinese archaeological mission has uncovered new evidence of life around the Temple of Sekhmet at ancient Memphis.
The discoveries include an ancient residential complex, stone architectural remains, statue fragments, pottery, figurines, ostraca and a stone installation that may have functioned as a wine press.
The possible wine press is particularly intriguing because grape seeds were found inside the structure, strengthening its connection with winemaking.
The wider archaeological evidence indicates that the area remained occupied from the Third Intermediate Period and Late Period through the Ptolemaic and Roman eras.
These findings demonstrate that the landscape around the Temple of Sekhmet continued to evolve long after its original religious importance.
With excavations set to continue, future seasons may reveal more about the temple, the homes and economic activities that surrounded it, and the people who lived in this changing part of ancient Memphis.
FAQ
What was discovered at ancient Memphis?
Archaeologists uncovered an ancient residential complex, a possible wine press, stone architectural elements, statue fragments, pottery, figurines, ostraca and other artefacts.
Where were the discoveries made?
They were made near the Temple of Sekhmet at Mit Rahina, the location of ancient Memphis in Egypt.
What may the stone installation have been used for?
Researchers believe it may have been used to press grapes and produce wine. Grape seeds discovered inside the structure support this interpretation.
Was the installation definitely a wine press?
Not yet. The source describes it as a possible wine press, and further archaeological analysis may be needed to establish its precise function.
What periods of occupation were identified?
The archaeological evidence indicates continued occupation from the Third Intermediate Period and Late Period through the Ptolemaic and Roman eras.
What is the Temple of Sekhmet associated with?
The Temple of Sekhmet formed part of the wider complex of the Great Temple of Ptah, the principal temple of ancient Memphis.
When was the Temple of Sekhmet first discovered?
Its remains were discovered accidentally in 1959 during construction work on a house.
When were the previous excavations conducted?
Egyptian antiquities inspector Mohamed Abdel-Tawab Al-Hatta excavated the site during the 1961–62 season.
Who is conducting the current excavation?
The project is a joint mission involving Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Shanghai Museum in China.
Will excavations continue?
Yes. Egyptian and Chinese specialists plan to continue excavating and documenting the Temple of Sekhmet and its surrounding area during future archaeological seasons.
