The Egyptian archaeological mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities has uncovered part of an ancient cemetery dating back to the Greco-Roman period at Tell Kom Aziza in Beheira Governorate. This discovery sheds light on the site’s history and its archaeological significance as one of the multi-period sites in the Nile Delta.

The excavations revealed a variety of burial styles, including simple burial pits where the deceased were buried directly in the earth, others with mud-brick frames, as well as burials inside painted plaster coffins and barrel-shaped pottery coffins, which were among the most common types of coffins during the Ptolemaic period. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Mr. Sherif Fathy, affirmed that this new archaeological discovery reflects the great importance of the Tell Kom Aziza site as one of the most promising archaeological sites in the Nile Delta. Its significance extends beyond the funerary remains it contains; it offers a comprehensive picture of the evolution of settlement patterns, daily life, and the interaction between humans and the environment over thousands of years, thus enriching our understanding of the history of ancient Egyptian civilization throughout the ages.

Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that the preliminary study of the human remains found at the site revealed a remarkable diversity in burial rituals and methods, both in individual and collective burials. Burial orientations varied between north-south and east-west axes, and the positions of the hands varied, including folded and crossed over the pelvis, around the neck, the distinctive Osirian position with arms crossed over the chest, and a straight position with the thighs aligned. This reflects the multiplicity of funerary practices and methods used to prepare the deceased for burial.

He added that a study of the archaeological layers at the site revealed that the cemetery, dating back to the Greco-Roman period, was built atop earlier settlement levels. Archaeological finds provided evidence confirming the site’s habitation during successive historical periods, beginning with the Old Kingdom, continuing through the New Kingdom and the Late Period, and culminating in the Greek and Roman eras.

Professor Mohamed Abdel-Badi, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, noted that a diverse collection of artifacts was unearthed at the site, including pottery and stone vessels used in daily life, bread-making molds, and various stone tools, in addition to a number of ovens and storage containers. Excavations also uncovered significant quantities of fish, bird, and animal bones, discoveries that shed light on the daily activities, diet, and social customs of the site’s inhabitants across different historical periods. Professor Khaled Abdel-Ghani Farhat, Director General of the Beheira Antiquities Zone and head of the archaeological excavation mission, confirmed that among the most prominent discoveries at the site was the finding of complete burials of wild boars within one of the archaeological layers. This is a rare phenomenon in ancient Egyptian funerary sites, given the symbolic association of the boar with the god Set in ancient Egyptian beliefs. This may indicate its connection to economic or subsistence activity within the site during one of its periods of use.

He added that the results of the excavations confirm that the Tell Kom Aziza archaeological site represents a unique model of multi-period archaeological sites. It witnessed settlement and subsistence activities from the beginnings of ancient Egyptian history, before transforming in later periods into an area of ​​intensive funerary activity. The excavations also underscore the exceptional importance of the site, as it is not only an archaeological cemetery but also a complete archaeological record documenting diverse patterns of human interaction with the surrounding environment across successive historical eras. The site still holds many secrets and promising archaeological evidence, which are expected to be revealed in future excavation seasons, contributing to a richer understanding of the region’s history and its cultural development throughout the ages.