Layers of history: Egypt unearths 6,000-year cemetery spanning Predynastic to Ptolemaic eras
The finds confirm that the area had been settled during the Hyksos’ reign during the 15th Dynasty given its proximity to Avaris, which had served as the capital city at the time.
Egyptian archaeologists have uncovered a remarkably ancient cemetery on the Kom El-Khalgan archaeological site in Dakahlia Governorate, spanning the Predynastic period to the Ptolemaic era. The oldest discoveries date back to the Lower Egyptian prehistoric cultures of Buto I and Buto II, originating in the first half of the fourth millennium BCE.
The cemetery features two groups of tombs with varying funerary rites. The first group, from the Second Intermediate Period (circa 1782 to 1550 BCE) and the New Kingdom, includes simple tombs with oval pits containing remains in different positions. These tombs are characterized by basic funerary items such as small pottery vessels and seashells, suggesting a heavily populated area during that time.
The second group reveals a mix of mastaba and cornice-style tombs, similar to the earlier burials. Preliminary research indicates a diverse range of burial positions, age groups, and customs. Funerary offerings include jewelry, amulets, scarabs, bronze tools and weapons, pottery vessels, and Tell el-Yahudiyeh (TEY) style juglets.
In addition to the cemetery, researchers found the remains of residential structures from the Second Intermediate Period, comprising mudbrick buildings, grain storage silos, ovens, and hearths. Nearby, they discovered sinusoidal (wavy) walls, a common architectural feature during the transition between the Middle and New Kingdoms. Other artifacts found included pottery vessels, stone tools, and a multitude of animal and fish bones.
The discovery confirms that the area was inhabited during the Hyksos 15th Dynasty reign, given its proximity to Avaris, the capital city at the time. Archaeologists at the site are continuing their excavations, promising further insight into ancient settlement patterns, funerary practices, and human interaction with nature in antiquity.
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