Egyptian archaeologists have recently discovered the oldest city in Egypt. Estimated to date all the way back to 5,316 BCE, the nameless city has brought a new wave of excitement among the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities. They have unearthed tools, utensils, and remnants of housing thus far. They have also excavated 15 massive graves marked by mastabas, rectangular tombs made of mud bricks with sloping sides and flat roofs. This has led archaeologists to believe this to be the home of senior officials who were responsible for building the royal tombs in the nearby city of Abydos.
Upper Egypt
This lost city has been discovered in the southern province of Sohage, located near Luxor in Upper Egypt. Breaking ground along the Nile River, it lies approximately 0.25 miles from the ancient city of Abydos and the Temple of Seti I. Abydos houses a necropolis where the earliest identifiable pharaohs had been laid to rest. The Great Temple of Osiris was built there during the sixth dynasty. Osiris is the God of the Underworld, and Abydos quickly became the main hub for this deity. The Temple of Seti I is also notable for its mysterious and controversial hieroglyphs depicting what appears to be helicopters, submarines, airplanes, tanks, and even UFOs. Upper Egypt is the region in which the vast majority of ancient sites dwell.
Soon, they will be able to add yet another to their growing list.
The Lost City
With a significant decrease in tourism in recent years due to Egypt's revolutionary upheaval, this discovery could not have come at a better time. The new Grand Egyptian Museum is scheduled to partially open in 2018 less than 1 mile from the Great Pyramids of Giza.
Transport of ancient Egyptian artifacts housed in the Egyptian Museum of Cairo is already underway. Perhaps this 7,000-year-old city is the spark the country needs to breathe new life into their dwindling tourism market. Detailed images of what this ancient city may have looked like have not yet been released. Not doubt, much more excavation must take place before digital re-creation can be done.
