An Italian archaeological mission working in the Abu Ghurab area of Abusir (Alexandria), co-directed by Dr. Massimiliano Nuzzolo and Dr. Rosanna Pirelli from the Universities of Turin and Naples, has uncovered the remains of the Valley Temple belonging to the sun complex of King Niuserre of the Fifth Dynasty, during ongoing excavation work at the site.
Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), emphasized the significance of this discovery, explaining that this temple is one of only two known sun temples from ancient Egypt found to date.
He further noted that the mission successfully uncovered more than half of the temple for the first time.
The structure appears as a massive building exceeding 1,000 square meters in area, distinguished by a unique architectural layout that makes it one of the largest and most prominent Valley Temples in the Memphis necropolis.
He pointed out that the German Egyptologist Ludwig Borchardt had identified the temple’s location in 1901, but high groundwater levels at the time prevented any excavation work.
Details of the uncovered temple architecture
Mohamed Abdel Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the SCA, stated that the excavations revealed the temple’s entrance, which was covered by a thick layer of Nile silt reaching approximately in height.
Furthermore, the original floor of the entrance was found, along with a limestone column base, and the remains of a circular granite column, which is thought to have been part of the main entrance portico.
Parts of the original stone casing of the walls in the corridor between the entrance gate and the causeway were also uncovered, as well as several architectural elements found in their original locations within the temple, including granite lintels and doorways.
Secondary entrance and ancient game pieces uncovered
Nuzzolo noted that during the previous excavation season, the mission discovered a complete quartzite gate in a good state of preservation, along with the remains of an internal staircase that would have led to the roof, located in the temple’s northwest section. This strongly suggests the existence of a secondary entrance.
He added that the current excavation work also revealed a ramp believed to have connected the temple to the Nile or one of its branches. Initial indications confirm that the building extends northward, consistent with the architectural style of the Fifth Dynasty temple complexes, such as the Valley Temple associated with King Sahure’s pyramid in Abusir.
Furthermore, the mission discovered a distinguished collection of artifacts, including two wooden pieces from the ancient Egyptian game of “Senet,” which is similar to modern chess.
Calendar of festivities and transition to residential use
Pirelli pointed to the discovery of a massive stone lintel inscribed with hieroglyphic texts that include a calendar of the temple’s religious festivities, along with mention of King Niuserre’s name.
Additionally, inscribed stone fragments of fine white limestone were found, alongside large quantities of pottery dating back to periods extending from the late Old Kingdom to the beginnings of the Middle Kingdom, with most belonging to the First Intermediate Period.
Preliminary studies suggest that the temple, after its role as a royal place of worship ended, was converted into a small residential area inhabited by local people during the First Intermediate Period. This provides a new source for understanding the daily life of the inhabitants of the Memphis region during this poorly documented period of ancient Egyptian history.
The mission is preparing to continue its work in the coming seasons to explore more elements of this important archaeological site and unveil new details that will significantly contribute to the understanding of the origins and evolution of the sun temples in ancient Egypt.
