Posted on 01/29/2008 9:36:38 PM PST by Fred Nerks
A team of US archaeologists has discovered the ruins of a city dating back to the period of the first farmers 7,000 years ago in Egypt's Fayyum oasis, the supreme council of antiquities said.
"An electro-magnetic survey revealed the existence in the Karanis region of a network of walls and roads similar to those constructed during the Greco-Roman period," the council's chief Zahi Hawwas said.
The remnants of the city are "still buried beneath the sand and the details of this discovery will be revealed in due course," Mr Hawwas said.
"The artefacts consist of the remains of walls and houses in terracotta or dressed limestone as well as a large quantity of pottery and the foundations of ovens and grain stores," he added.
The remains date back to the Neolithic period between 5,200 and 4,500 BC.
The local director of antiquities, Ahmed Abdel Alim, said the site was just seven kilometres from Fayyum lake and would probably have lain at the water's edge at the time it was inhabited.
- AFP
Ping!
Ping.
That’s old,, thanks for posting.
The Fayoum is a wonderful area of Egypt with a rich and interesting history. It is an area where Egyptians often vacation and which is constantly growing more popular among Europeans. This 692 sq. mile depression was a lush paradise during prehistoric times. It's water level was eighty-five meters higher than today (currently 45 meters below sea level) and the Nile regularly flooded through the low mountains separating it from the Fayoum. At 215 square km, the current lake Qaroun remains Egypt's largest salt water lake. The prehistoric people who lived here were, at first, nomadic hunters and gatherers, but later began harvesting plants near the lake. This developed into what is said to be the earliest agricultural area in the world, where fences were erected and guarded warehouses built. It has remained an agriculture center, well known for it's fruits, vegetables and chickens.
BUMP!
The Bahr Youseff, Joseph’s Canal
http://www.hebrewhistory.info/factpapers/fp010-2_egypt.htm#ch4
1. Pyramid of Meidum 2. Pyramid of Hawara 3. Pyramid of Al Lahun 4. Crocodilopolis 5. Qasr Qarun & Dionysias 6. Karanis
The Faiyum, a fertile area situated in a depression west of the Nile river used to be swampland 3,500 years ago. As it was not far from the Middle Kingdom capital city it was used as burial grounds by Sesostris II and Amenemhet III.
I did search for it...and nothing came up.
Thanks for later reading.
great map, I notice there’s bus stop near Medinet Madi!
Here is a link to some information about the area:
http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Karanis83/KaranisExcavation/TheRuralEconomy.html
Here is a link to some information about the area:
http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Karanis83/KaranisExcavation/TheRuralEconomy.html
Rumor has it that they also uncovered the ruins of Helen Thomas’ earliest office in the city.
Imagine that, a 7000 year old city on a 6000 year old planet.
It looks like this is about 1500 to 2000 years before the first dynasty, which is nearly as long as dynastic Egypt lasted.
It’s interesting; there are earlier sites in Egypt, including one which was apparently stormed by an attacking force, which left thousands of arrowheads, burned everything, killed or captured everyone.
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Thanks Fred Nerks and JennysCool. |
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