Archaeologists Uncover 3,400-Year-Old Egyptian City Linked to Akhenaten

Archaeologists have uncovered the ruins of a 3,400-year-old Egyptian town near Alexandria, fundamentally revising the understanding of settlement in Egypt’s Mediterranean region. The mud-brick town at Kom el-Nugus is believed to date back to the 18th Dynasty and may have been founded by Akhenaten, the father of Tutankhamun. Discoveries at the site include an amphora stamped with the name of Merytaton, Akhenaten’s daughter, as well as architectural remains such as streets, drainage systems, and temple blocks linked to Ramses II and Seti II. Previously, scholars thought the area was only inhabited from the Greek period onward, but these findings show significant New Kingdom activity much earlier. The discovery sheds light on the reach of royal influence and daily life beyond the Nile Valley and suggests the settlement was a major center with possible military and religious significance. Ongoing excavations may further reveal the town’s extent and historical importance.