Archaeological Site in Buto Reveals 2,600-Year-Old Mudbrick Structure

The archaeological site of Buto (Tell el-Fara'in) in the northwestern Nile Delta, Egypt, has revealed a mudbrick structure dating back approximately 2,600 years to the Saite period. This discovery was made possible through the integration of Sentinel-1 satellite imagery and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) measurements, as detailed in a study published in Acta Geophysica.

The investigation began with satellite imagery captured on May 5, 2018, which identified a large anomaly measuring 128 by 62 meters on Kom C, one of the mounds at the site. This anomaly prompted the research team, which included members from Kafrelsheikh University and the Egyptian National Authority for Remote Sensing, to conduct ERT measurements across approximately 5,400 square meters. The results indicated the presence of various archaeological materials, including Ptolemaic and Roman debris, in the upper layers, while a well-defined high-resistivity anomaly was detected between 3 and 6 meters, suggesting the existence of a significant structure.

The identified mudbrick structure, possibly a tomb or shrine, rests on an artificial sand foundation. The study also noted that the upper layers showed diffuse resistivity patterns, indicating remnants of earlier periods. The findings suggest that the builders of this structure had a deep understanding of their environment, as the sand layer likely helped stabilize the foundations against the fluctuating water levels of the Nile Delta.

Excavations conducted over a 10 × 10 meter area revealed mudbrick walls and religious artifacts, further supporting the interpretations derived from the geophysical and remote sensing data. This study highlights the effectiveness of combining modern technologies to enhance archaeological investigations, particularly in complex sites like Buto.