Finds at the Memphis Site
A joint team made up of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Shanghai Museum has uncovered a residential area, a probable wine press, and other objects near the Temple of Sekhmet at Mit Rahina. These discoveries point to the area being used from the Third Intermediate Period and the Late Period all the way through Ptolemaic and Roman times. They also give a clearer picture of how ordinary people lived in ancient Memphis.
What Excavations Revealed
The archaeologists started by cleaning and documenting the Temple of Sekhmet, which was part of the larger Temple of Ptah complex in ancient Memphis. East of the temple, they found a stone installation thought to have been used for pressing grapes and producing wine. The installation has an upper basin that slopes south to a central opening, a lower basin, and openings made to hold amphorae or other containers. Grape seeds discovered within the structure strengthen the case for its role in winemaking.
Additional finds from the site include:
- stone blocks and statue fragments, many of which belong to Egypt's New Kingdom, especially the reign of Ramesses II;
- objects made from different kinds of stone, including granite;
- pottery shards, terracotta and stone figurines, and ostraca.
According to Mohamed Abdel Badi, these remains show that people continued to live in this part of Memphis from the Third Intermediate and Late Periods through the Ptolemaic era and into the Roman Empire.
Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathi, stated that the discoveries carry great value for understanding ancient Egypt's history and culture.
The news was shared on 31 August 2026. Beyond adding to what is known about the daily lives and culture of the ancient Egyptians, these finds underline how international partnerships can advance historical research. Since winemaking was an important economic and cultural activity, the discovery may also open up new ways of thinking about social structures and trade links at that time. In addition, such finds could encourage tourism and raise awareness of Egypt's heritage around the world.
In addition to the significant findings at Memphis, recent excavations at another pivotal site in Egypt have unveiled the burial location of Sahnetiobtah, a royal chamberlain. This discovery offers further insights into the burial practices and social hierarchy of ancient Egypt. For those interested in exploring how these archaeological revelations connect to the broader narrative of Egypt's rich history, the details of this royal burial site provide a fascinating context.