Cairo: An Egyptian-Chinese archaeological mission uncovered the remains of a residential complex and a variety of artifacts on Sunday, August 30, 2026, during excavations at the Sekhmet Temple site in Giza's Mit Rahina, shedding further light on the area's history across successive periods.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the joint mission, comprising archaeologists from Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Shanghai Museum in China, made the discoveries during its work at the site. Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy welcomed the fruitful archaeological cooperation between Egypt and China, describing the two countries as home to two of the world's oldest civilizations. He said the partnership was one of several forms of collaboration between the two countries in archaeology, including a number of joint Egyptian-Chinese projects and missions.
Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Hisham El-Leithy said the mission began by cleaning and documenting the Sekhmet Temple, which formed part of the Great Temple of Ptah complex. It also conducted excavations in the surrounding area to identify the site's features and determine how it was used over the centuries. Among the most significant discoveries were the remains of a mud-brick residential complex surrounding the temple, along with stone blocks and statue fragments, some believed to have formed part of the Great Temple of Ptah - the principal temple of the ancient city of Memphis, of which the Sekhmet Temple was a part.
Excavations east of the temple also uncovered a limestone structure believed to have been used as a wine press. The structure consists of an upper basin sloping southward toward a central opening and a lower collection basin; both basins have openings for securing amphorae used to collect the liquid. Grape seeds found inside the structure support the interpretation that it was used for wine production.
The excavations also yielded a wide range of artifacts, including stone blocks and statue fragments, most dating to the New Kingdom, particularly the reign of King Ramses II. The finds were made of various materials, including limestone, red granite, and schist, as well as pottery fragments, faience amulets, small terracotta and limestone figurines, ostraca, and votive stelae.
Mohamed Abdel-Badie, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the discoveries indicate that human settlement in the area continued from the Third Intermediate Period and Late Period through the Ptolemaic and Greco-Roman periods. The findings reflect the continuity of life in ancient Memphis even after the temple's role as a major religious center had declined, with the area subsequently used as a residential quarter, he said.
The Egyptian-Chinese mission will continue its work in coming seasons under the leadership of Reham Zaki, supervisor of scientific affairs at the Supreme Council of Antiquities' General Secretariat, and Chen Jie, deputy director of the Shanghai Museum. The joint team will continue archaeological excavations and architectural documentation of the Sekhmet Temple and its surroundings, seeking to uncover further details about the temple and gain a deeper understanding of settlement patterns in this important part of ancient Memphis.
The Sekhmet Temple was discovered by chance in 1959 during construction of a house in the area, when remains of the temple came to light. Archaeological excavations were subsequently carried out at the site during a single season from 1961 to 1962 by Mohamed Abdel Tawab El-Hetta, an Egyptian antiquities inspector. In 2015, the visible archaeological remains at the site were documented as part of the Ancient Memphis Site and Community Management Project. The Egyptian-Chinese mission later began excavations at the temple and its surrounding area - the first since 1962 - while also continuing architectural documentation to build a more comprehensive understanding of the area's inhabitants, character, and changing uses over the centuries.