A British archaeological team from the University of Manchester has uncovered the remains of the ancient city of Imet at Tell al-Faraun (Tell Nabesha) in the Al-Husayniyya district of Sharqia, Egypt, revealing one of the Nile Delta’s most historically significant urban centers.
The excavation, announced by Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, revealed parts of residential buildings, grain stores, and animal enclosures. Experts date the remains to the early or mid-4th century BCE, offering new insight into daily life and urban planning in ancient Lower Egypt.
Dr. Nikki Nielsen, who leads the mission, said Imet was a major residential center during the New Kingdom and Late Period. A large temple dedicated to the goddess Wadjet once stood at the heart of the city.
The site also occupied a key location along the Nile Delta trade routes, which added to its prominence and sustained its strategic role over several centuries.
Archaeologists focused their work on the eastern sector of the mound, where satellite images revealed dense clusters of mudbrick remains. These findings led to the discovery of strong foundation walls, likely built to support heavy multi-story structures.
Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the architecture reflects a style typical of Lower Egypt between the Late Period and the Roman conquest. The tower-like houses, featuring thick foundations and multiple levels, were likely built to accommodate large numbers of residents.
One of the most notable finds includes the upper part of a ushabti statue made of green faience, dating to the 26th Dynasty (664–525 BCE). A stone stele was also discovered, depicting the god Horus standing on crocodiles while holding snakes, flanked by the dwarf god Bes, a symbol of protection and fertility.
In the temple zone, archaeologists uncovered a limestone platform and the remains of two large mudbrick columns that may have been plastered. The structure likely stood above a ceremonial road connecting two temples – one from the Late Period and another dedicated to Wadjet. Evidence suggests this processional route fell out of use by the mid-Ptolemaic Period, around the 3rd century BCE.
The temple itself was rebuilt by Ramses II (1279–1213 BCE) and restored by Pharaoh Amasis II (570–526 BCE), remaining a site of religious importance through multiple eras. Its influence likely drew pilgrims and merchants, helping explain the dense pattern of housing and storage buildings found nearby.
Additional finds include a bronze sistrum, a ritual musical instrument decorated with the face of Hathor. Nearby utility structures indicate that Imet’s economy was built on farming and trade.
Dr. Hussein Abdel-Basir emphasized the need for continued exploration of the Delta, stating that deeper layers at Tell al-Faraon may reveal even earlier phases of settlement.
Imet, once the capital of the nineteenth province of Lower Egypt, was closely tied to the worship of Wadjet. Its name may derive from an ancient Egyptian word meaning “the place” or “the residence,” reflecting both its cultural and political role in antiquity.
