Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered an ancient settlement at the Tell el-Koua site in the Wadi Tumilat region, dating back to the Second Intermediate Period. This era has long been a subject of scholarly debate regarding the historical context of the biblical Exodus.
The discovery, announced by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in late June, includes 15th Dynasty tombs and evidence of occupation extending into the 18th Dynasty. This timeline bridges the transition from Hyksos rule to the New Kingdom. The Hyksos were a group that governed much of northern Egypt approximately 3,600 years ago before being expelled by the Egyptians.
Some biblical scholars propose that the Hyksos period might offer historical context for the Exodus narrative, although there is no scholarly consensus on the historicity or timing of the biblical event.
At the Tell el-Koua site, excavations revealed 10 mudbrick tombs, the remains of homes, ovens, grain storage silos, and a walled neighborhood from the Second Intermediate Period. Artifacts recovered include scarab amulets, bronze tools, pottery, alabaster cosmetic containers, and human and animal remains, suggesting daily life and funerary practices.
A residential complex measuring roughly 98 by 197 feet was also found, containing large halls, rooms, kilns, and grain storage silos. For the first time at this site, archaeologists discovered human burials outside the main mudbrick tombs, some in a crouched position, which requires further study. Analysis of the pottery indicates extensive daily use of the site, with tableware being the most common find, followed by cooking vessels.
According to Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy, the findings suggest the site was a self-contained community with areas for living, storage, production, and burial. He commended the efforts of both Egyptian and international archaeological missions in uncovering more of ancient Egypt's history.
The Wadi Tumilat region serves as an ancient corridor connecting the eastern Nile Delta with Egypt's eastern frontier. This discovery follows another significant find from the same period in 2025, when archaeologists near Abydos unearthed a 3,600-year-old pharaoh's tomb buried 23 feet below the desert surface.