The recent discovery of a Ramesside settlement at Kom el-Nugus, north of Lake Mariout in Egypt, documented in research led by Sylvain Dhennin and his team, challenges the widespread belief that this area was only first occupied during the Hellenistic period (332–31 BCE). Excavations have uncovered evidence of a significant establishment dating back to the New Kingdom (c. 1550–1069 BCE).
Kom el-Nugus is located 43 kilometers west of Alexandria, strategically situated between the Mediterranean Sea and Lake Mariout. The terrain is marked by a horseshoe-shaped mound (known as a “kom”) surrounded by fig orchards and archaeological ruins, ranging from a Hellenistic necropolis to calcarenite stone structures used as retaining walls.
Since the first excavations in 2013, the site has revealed layers of occupation, including levels from the Saite-Persian (7th–5th centuries BCE) and Hellenistic periods, evidencing continuous use and remodeling over the centuries. However, it was in the older layers that unexpected vestiges of a Ramesside settlement were uncovered, marking a milestone in the research.
The most significant discovery has been the identification of a New Kingdom settlement, likely related to agricultural activities such as wine production. A key find was a jar seal bearing the name of Meritaten, daughter of Akhenaten and Nefertiti, suggesting the settlement was established during the 18th Dynasty (c. 1550–1292 BCE).
Among the ruins were fragments of a stela bearing the cartouche of Seti II, blocks belonging to a temple dedicated by Ramesses II, and remnants of private chapels from the Ramesside period. These findings reflect the symbolic and functional importance of the site, which may have hosted both religious and economic activities.
Archaeologists identified two main phases in the construction of mudbrick buildings arranged around a central street. The structures included drainage systems to protect the foundations of the walls and evidence of successive reconstructions, suggesting the settlement was remodeled several times throughout its history.
With the arrival of the Hellenistic period, the site underwent significant transformation. A monumental building, likely a temple, was constructed, and its footprint is still visible in the bedrock. This temple was surrounded by a calcarenite retaining wall designed to prevent the collapse of debris from the adjacent slopes.
The introduction of these Hellenistic structures significantly altered the landscape of the kom, destroying or repurposing parts of the Ramesside settlement. However, archaeologists recovered valuable clues about the earlier occupation from areas unaffected by later modifications.
The Kom el-Nugus settlement raises new questions about the role of the New Kingdom in the western Nile Delta region. Its location suggests it may have been a strategic outpost or a center for seasonal activities, similar to the temporary military camps of the period.
The research team, supported by institutions such as the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology and the CNRS, plans to extend the excavations to identify the name and exact function of this settlement. So far, the evidence points to intermittent occupation, but the exact nature of its use remains a mystery.
SOURCES
Dhennin S., A new Ramesside settlement north of Mareotis Lake (Kom el-Nugus, Egypt). Antiquity. Published online 2025:1-7. doi:10.15184/aqy.2024.230
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