Italian archaeological mission in Abu Ghurab unearths remains of Valley Temple of King Nyuserre Ini from Fifth Dynasty

CAIRO – 12 December 2025: The Italian archaeological mission working in the Abu Ghurab area of Abusir, located south of Cairo between Saqqara and Giza, has uncovered the remains of the Valley Temple of the Sun Temples of King Nyuserre Ini from the Fifth Dynasty, the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism announced on Friday.

The mission is headed by Massimiliano Nuzzolo, Assistant Professor of Egyptology at the Institute for Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, and Rosanna Pirelli of the University of Naples L'Orientale.

 

Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, emphasized the significance of this discovery, noting that the temple is one of two known sun temples in ancient Egypt.

 

He revealed that the mission has succeeded, for the first time, in uncovering more than half of the temple, identifying it as a massive monument spanning over 1,000 square meters. The temple is distinguished by a unique architectural plan, making it one of the largest and most prominent Valley Temples in the Memphis necropolis.

 

Dr. Khaled added that the German Egyptologist Ludwig Borchardt had identified the temple’s location in 1901, but a high water table at the time prevented proper excavation.

 

For his part, Professor Mohamed Abdel-Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, stated that the excavations revealed the temple’s entrance, which had been buried under a thick layer of Nile silt measuring approximately 1.20 meters. The mission also uncovered the original entrance floor, a limestone column base, and the remains of a circular granite column, likely part of the main entrance portico.

 

Additional discoveries include fragments of the original stone cladding of the walls lining the passageway between the entrance gate and the ascending causeway, as well as several architectural elements found in situ, such as granite lintels and doorways.

 

In a related context, Dr. Nuzzolo noted that during the previous excavation season, the mission had discovered a well-preserved quartzite gateway, along with the remains of an internal staircase leading to the roof in the northwestern part of the temple, suggesting the presence of a secondary entrance.

 

He added that the current season revealed a ramp believed to have connected the temple to the Nile or one of its branches. Initial indications confirm that the building extends northward, following the architectural pattern of Fifth Dynasty temples, such as the Valley Temple of King Sahure at Abusir.

 

The mission also unearthed a remarkable collection of artifacts, including two wooden pieces from the ancient Egyptian board game Senet, which looks like modern-day chess.

Dr. Rosanna Pirelli pointed to the discovery of a large stone lintel inscribed with hieroglyphic texts containing a calendar of religious festivals specific to the temple, as well as the name of King Nyuserre. Additional finds include inscribed fragments of fine white limestone and large quantities of pottery dating from the late Old Kingdom to the early Middle Kingdom, with many artifacts belonging to the First Intermediate Period.

Preliminary studies indicate that once the temple ceased functioning as a royal cult site, it was repurposed into a small residential settlement inhabited by local people during the First Intermediate Period. This discovery provides a valuable new source of information on daily life in the Memphis region during this little-documented era of ancient Egyptian history.

The mission is preparing to continue its work in upcoming excavation seasons to explore additional elements of this important site and uncover further details that will significantly enhance the understanding of the origins and development of sun temples in ancient Egypt.