Memphis Kom el-Fakhry Archaeological Project
Dr. Didi El-Behaedi, The University of Missouri, Co-Director, Dr. Elham Ahmed, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Co-Director, and Dr. Kelly-Anne Diamond, Assistant Director
SFAR Archaeological Fieldwork Project
Memphis Kom el-Fakhry Archaeological Project (MKAP) Memphis, the first capital of a unified Egypt and one of the ancient world’s most important cities, continues to be an enigma in the present day. Despite its profound historical significance over more than 3,000 years, very little is known about the city itself due to the lack of systematic and continuous excavation at the site. Today, the archaeological remains of Memphis are highly fragmented, with the various mounds of the city being separated by urban development and agricultural fields. Kom el-Fakhry, named after the town's oldest mosque, is one of ten mounds that constitute ancient Memphis. Discovered in 1951 during the construction of the Badrashein-Saqqara Road, this kom contains the earliest in-situ remains found at Memphis to date: a cemetery from the First Intermediate Period (c. 2160-2034 BCE) and the remains of a Middle Kingdom town (c. 2034-1650 BCE). Unfortunately, the site faces numerous threats, including urban encroachment, vandalism, looting, and domestic waste dumping, creating an urgent need for continued excavation and digital preservation. In 2023, the Memphis Kom el-Fakhry Archaeological Project (MKAP) began working at the site. MKAP's primary objectives include uncovering more of the Middle Kingdom town, investigating the possibility of in-situ Old Kingdom remains, and thoroughly documenting and surveying the site. The first season has already yielded a wealth of new information about this poorly understood and largely neglected part of Memphis.
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