Update: 2025 Fieldwork Season at Gebelein
- Dr. Wojciech Ejsmond (posted by SFAR)
- Sep 17
- 2 min read
It’s great to be back in Gebelein!
After a few years, we are finally returning to the field. This season, our research focuses on two very different periods in the history of Gebelein.
Ptolemaic Town of Pathyris
The first half of this fieldwork season is devoted to the Ptolemaic settlement of Pathyris, the Greek rendering of Per-Hathor (“House/Fortress of the goddess Hathor”). In the 2nd century BCE, it became the capital of the local district, the Pathryite nome. About 1,300 Demotic and Greek documents are known from this area, providing remarkable insights into life in a provincial Egyptian town under Ptolemaic rule. Yet, archaeologically, the city itself remains poorly known. We are drawing on notes and photographs from earlier scholars and, in the coming weeks, will survey what survives in order to reconstruct the layout of the town and the daily lives of its inhabitants.
Gebelein’s Earliest History
Later this season, we will turn to the Pre- and Early Dynastic remains. Previous surveys revealed numerous copper slags alongside early artefacts, suggesting evidence of ancient metal production. This year, we will investigate that activity in more detail, while also studying the rich corpus of pottery to better understand local craft traditions. We are hoping to uncover further impressions of clay seals—like those we found in earlier seasons—but as always, the ground may surprise us.
Tombs and Temples
Our work also includes documenting rock-cut tombs from the Old Kingdom and the First Intermediate Period, which hold great potential for understanding administrative changes during Egypt’s first major state crisis. In parallel, we will assess the preservation of the rock-cut chapel of Hathor, “Lady of Gebelein,” which underwent conservation a few years ago. It promises to be an exciting season of discoveries—so stay tuned!
We are deeply grateful to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities for granting us the privilege to carry out this research and for their kind support. Our sincere thanks also go to the inspectorates of Luxor and Esna and their managers, whose assistance ensured that procedures ran smoothly and allowed us to begin without delay. The first stage of the project forms part of Dr. Aneta Skalec’s research grant Ptolemais Pathyris Project (No. 2022/45/P/HS3/01807), co-funded by the National Science Centre and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 945339. The second stage is generously sponsored by The Sphinx Foundation for Archaeological Research, Thames Valley Ancient Egypt Society, Essex Egyptology Group, and LeydoFilm. Thank you all for your invaluable support!
The Gebelein Archaeological Project is a mission of the Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures.
Follow the link below to learn more about the Gebelein Archaeological Project (reposted from https://www.facebook.com/gebelein with the permission of Dr. Ejsmond).
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