Skip to main content

Ancient administrative center discovered in Egypt’s Kom Ombo

The archaeological discovery included a military fortification used by the British occupation to hold off Sudan’s Mahdist revolution.
Temple of Kom Ombo, Aswan, Egypt.

CAIRO — A joint Egyptian-Austrian archaeological mission working at the Temple of Kom Ombo in Aswan unveiled the discovery on March 2 of an administrative center dating back to the First Transitional Period from 2180 to 2050 B.C., raising questions about when the temple was originally established.

In a press statement, head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mustafa Waziri said, “During its work in the northeastern side of the temple, the mission found more than 20 conical silos, which are likely to have served as an administrative facility that was used to store and distribute grains during the First Transitional Period from 2180 to 2050 B.C.”

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.