Remains of a large administrative facility from the First Intermediate Period were uncovered during an excavation carried out by an Austrian-Egyptian mission.
The mission is led by Eriny Foster at the Upper Egyptian town of Kom Ombo that lies approximately 45km north of Aswan on the east bank of the Nile River.
It consists of many rooms containing more than 20 conical silos used for grain storage as well as cellars, staircases, and storerooms
Abdel Moneim Saeed, the head of Aswan and Nubia Antiquities, pointed out that Kom Ombo is a protected area, containing the famous Ptolemaic Temple of Kom Ombo, which is a regular feature of tourist itineraries.
Surprisingly, the surrounding area of the ancient town was never investigated systematically. The walls of these silos are exceptionally well preserved, standing up to two metres in height, and some of the silos are even taller,” said Foster. The building probably served as a centre for grain distribution.
“It is a unique discovery at Kom Ombo and indicates the importance of the town in Upper Egypt during the First Intermediate Period,” he said.
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