Hidden in the desert landscape about 35 kilometers southwest of Fayoum city—and just 4 kilometers away from the well-known Medinet Madi site, lies the remarkable yet lesser-known Ghoran archaeological site. Spanning roughly 200 by 200 meters, this ancient mound is scattered with the remains of limestone and mudbrick walls, along with numerous pottery sherds.

These surface traces likely mark the location of a once-standing temple. Around 250 meters east of this area, an ancient cemetery adds further depth to the site’s historical significance.

Based on the material remains, Ghoran is believed to have been occupied from approximately the 3rd century BCE to the 8th century CE, covering a long stretch of Egypt’s rich and evolving past.

The following is our English summary based on information from Dr. Paola Davoli’s book Archeologia Urbana nel Fayyum di età ellenistica e romana, which provides detailed insights into the site. All photographs were taken by us during field visits and are included here to illustrate and support the described findings.

Excavations history:

No archaeological excavations had taken place at Kom Medinet Ghoran since the pioneering work of Pierre Jouguet in 1901, when a tantalizing clue led him to the site. Local villagers had sold him fragments of cartonnage and parts of wooden coffins, said to have come from a recently looted Ptolemaic necropolis nearby. More than a century later, in December 2022, the Supreme Council of Antiquities launched a new excavation at the site, marking the first official archaeological investigation there since Jouguet’s initial exploration. Abandoning his work at Medinet Madi, Jouguet moved his team of thirty laborers to Ghoran, where he excavated from January 1 to March 20. On a modest limestone outcrop, he uncovered two mudbrick houses and scattered funerary remains—offering the first glimpse into the site’s ancient past. Nearly a century later, in 1997, the Fayoum Archaeological Project led by Dominic Rathbone returned to Ghoran. This new phase of investigation focused on documenting the site’s condition and analyzing surface pottery sherds, some dating as far back as the 3rd century BCE.

Unfortunately, like many heritage sites across Egypt, Ghoran suffered during the security vacuum of January 2011 and the turbulent years that followed. The site was subjected to looting, vandalism, and destruction, resulting in significant damage and the loss of valuable historical layers that may never be fully recovered and it is believed to have been occupied from approximately the 3rd century BCE to the 8th century CE, covering a long stretch of Egypt’s rich and evolving past.

The site:

Nestled in the desert northwest of Medinet Madi Archaeological site, the site of Kom Medinet Ghoran  rises subtly on an elongated, flattened rocky outcrop that commands a sweeping view of the depression below to the northwest. Though only a few remnants of the small settlement survive, the landscape still speaks volumes. To the east, the outlines of an ancient necropolis remain visible, hinting at the lives once rooted here. Just west of the kom, a striking outcrop of white clay emerges—rich with fossils, a silent testament to the site’s deep geological history.

The remains of the settlement at Kom Medinet Ghoran are sparse and weathered, with most structures having collapsed long ago—not buried beneath sand, but exposed to time. Scattered limestone flakes, once the primary building material, blanket the site, their dry-stone construction still visible in a few surviving wall sections. Adobe and fired bricks were used far less frequently, with only traces of greenish clay bricks offering clues to their presence. Atop the highest hill, the ruins of a structure built with squared limestone blocks hint at a once-prominent building that crowned this windswept outpost.

The ancient settlement, perched on a limestone outcrop no larger than 1,000 m², seemed modest at first glance—its collapsed houses barely leaving a trace. Yet beneath three unassuming sand mounds lay clusters of buried dwellings. The largest, dubbed Kom C, spanned 500 m² and rose 8 meters high, while two smaller mounds each measured around 100 m² and 3 meters in height. Ceramic fragments scattered across the surface offered the first hints of the forgotten life once rooted in this desert outpost.

Excavations at all three areas of Kom Medinet Ghoran were carried out over two seasons—initially in 1901 and then again in 1902—during three intensive weeks dedicated entirely to unearthing and studying the ancient dwellings. Jouguet’s excavation report captures the discoveries in remarkable detail, accompanied by photographs and site plans that, despite lacking metric scales, vividly illustrate the layout of the building complexes and the best-preserved houses.

At Kom A, the remains revealed an impressively planned settlement. Several structures surrounded a central open space interpreted as a square, from which a 9-meter-wide street extended. The buildings were arranged in a neat orthogonal grid—evidence of a thoughtful urban design. Among these, one dwelling stood out for its state of preservation. Built from small-cut local stones and adobe bricks, with dressed stone reserved for thresholds and door jambs, the house offered rare insights into domestic architecture. Inside, collapsed ceilings revealed construction techniques: beams made from tree branches supported reed mats tied with palm-fiber ropes, forming the roofing structure.

Conclusion and New Excavations

Despite its poor state of preservation, Kom Medinet Ghoran still holds untapped archaeological potential. While Pierre Jouguet’s early 20th-century excavations uncovered important insights—such as square-plan houses with distinctive architectural features and a large necropolis—much remains to be explored. The surrounding landscape, marked by exposed bedrock and a lack of nearby farmland, suggests the site was never intended for large-scale agriculture.

Archaeological evidence indicates the village was primarily active during the Ptolemaic period, with later signs of monastic occupation. Although traces from the Roman era are minimal, the limited scope of previous excavations means a Roman phase cannot be ruled out.

In December 2022, a new archaeological mission led by the Fayoum Antiquities Inspectorate resumed work at the site under the supervision of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. This recent effort successfully identified the location of the ancient cemetery east of the city and temple area and uncovered mudbrick and limestone wall remains, helping to further define the boundaries of the ancient settlement. Despite its small size, Medinet Ghoran likely experienced periods of prosperity, as reflected in the quality of its architecture and burials—offering a compelling reason for renewed archaeological attention today.