British archaeologists have uncovered multistory buildings in a lost city of ancient Egypt, shedding new light on early urban development and infrastructure in the Nile Delta. The discovery, made at Tell el-Fara’in—ancient Imet or Buto—includes rare tower houses and dense architectural remains that challenge modern assumptions about life in antiquity.
Led by the University of Manchester, in partnership with Egypt’s University of Sadat City, researchers used satellite imagery and remote sensing to identify ancient mudbrick clusters. The excavation revealed multistory homes, fortified with “exceptionally thick foundation walls,” designed for a growing population in a once-thriving Ptolemaic city.
“These tower houses are mainly found in the Nile Delta between the Late Period and the Roman era, and are rare elsewhere in Egypt,” said Egyptologist Nicky Nielsen. “Their presence here shows that Imet was a thriving and densely built city with a complex urban infrastructure.”
The team also found granaries, animal enclosures, and a ceremonial road linked to the cobra goddess Wadjet—evidence of a once-robust religious and economic center. Artifacts included a bronze sistrum, funerary figurines, and temple relics tied to Hathor and Harpocrates.
As modern culture downplays historical roots, this find revives appreciation for ancient civilization’s ingenuity. “This discovery opens new doors to our understanding of daily life, spirituality and urban planning in the Delta,” said university officials.
