Artifacts dating back to King Psmatik I era uncovered in Kafr El-Skeikh

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Tue, 02 Jan 2018 - 12:15 GMT

BY

Tue, 02 Jan 2018 - 12:15 GMT

Photograph of the excavation site at Buto, January 2, 2018 - Ministry of Antiquities/Facebook

Photograph of the excavation site at Buto, January 2, 2018 - Ministry of Antiquities/Facebook

CAIRO – 2 January 2018: An archaeological excavation at the ancient city of Buto in Kafr El-Skeikh Governorate has uncovered remains of mud-brick walls, four furnaces and various other assorted artifacts.

Seated_limestone_royal_statue,_January_2,_2018_-_Ministiry_of_Antiquities_Facebook
[Seated limestone royal statue, January 2, 2018 - Ministiry of Antiquities Facebook]

The findings were recently announced by the ‎Ministry of Antiquities on Facebook. Ayman Ashmawy, the ministry’s head of the antiquities sector, stated that studies conducted on the newly uncovered wall remnants discovered that they may have once been part of the ancient Buto temple, while the furnaces were likely used to prepare offerings to the gods.

Fragment_of_the_royal_statue,_January_2,_2018_-_Ministry_of_Antiquities_Facebook
[Fragment of the royal statue, January 2, 2018 - Ministry of Antiquities/Facebook]

The first of the artifacts uncovered are fragments of an unknown royal statue, possibly belonging to King Psmatik I. Carved in black granite, the statue is missing all of its limbs and head, and depicts the unknown king wearing the royal kilt, or Shendit, the tell-tale sign that this was a statue for royalty. A limestone seated statue recovered may also be of King Psmatik I, and the two statues have been transferred by the ministry to undergo restoration.

Head of the mission Hossam Ghoneim also confirmed on Facebook that other uncovered artifacts include a quartzite statue of the god Hur, the remnants of a sculptured hand, a variety of pottery, fragments of the Menat Necklace which represents the Goddess Hathor.


Quartz_statue_of_the_God_Hur,_January_2,_2018_-_Ministry_of_Antiquities_Facebook
[Quartz statue of the God Hur, January 2, 2018 - Ministry of Antiquities Facebook]

The Buto site, now known as Tell El-Fara'in (Hill of the Pharaohs), is an ancient city located 95 kilometers east of Alexandria.

Originally two cities named Pe and Dep, the centers of Lower Egypt’s culture; they eventually merged into the city of Per-Wadjet around the 4th millennium, the capital of Lower Egypt until its eventual decline. It was renamed to Buto by the 4th century once Egypt came under the rule of Greece, and was rediscovered in 1888. All that remains of the once great capital are three mounds, which contain the ruins of two cities and a grand temple.




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