Joint Egyptian-Chinese excavation uncovers ancient sacred lake in Karnak

An Egyptian-Chinese archaeological mission has announced the discovery of an ancient "sacred lake" within the Montu Temple precinct in the Karnak Temple Complex, Luxor. The lake, situated west of the Maat Temple, spans over 50 square meters and is a well-preserved man-made water reservoir. This finding has not been recorded in previous archaeological archives.

The newly uncovered sacred lake, alongside the previously known lake at the Montu Temple, forms a unique layout of two sacred lakes aligned north and south within the Karnak enclosure walls. This is the only sacred lake discovered through systematic excavation in Egyptian archaeology, filling a gap in Egyptology.

Sacred lakes were integral to ancient Egyptian temple architecture, serving as holy water sources reserved for ritual use within temples.

Archaeologists have also discovered dozens of cow jaw remains and reused stone blocks from the Late Period (747-332 BC). In the Osirian chapel area, three chapels dedicated to Osiris and numerous Osiris statuettes of varying sizes and materials were unearthed, providing further insight into the history of Thebes under the rule of the divine adoratrice during the 25th and 26th Dynasties.

The Montu Temple site covers approximately 106,000 square meters, with about 24,000 square meters within the temple precinct. The joint mission has excavated an area of about 2,300 square meters since 2018, conducted by the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

This excavation is supported by the Zhengzhou Municipal Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and the Institute of World History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The project marks a significant collaboration between the ancient civilizations of China and Egypt, fostering mutual understanding and cultural exchange.

Based on reporting by Africanews.