Aburied structure discovered beneath the ancient city of Buto in Egypt’s Nile Delta could be the remains of a temple dating back around 2,600 years. The find emerged after researchers combined satellite radar imagery with underground scanning techniques to identify hidden archaeological features.
The discovery followed an investigation that paired satellite radar data with geophysical mapping techniques capable of detecting buried remains. Archaeologists later uncovered mudbrick walls and several religious objects during preliminary excavations. Details of the work were reported in Applied Geophysics in March 2026.
Satellites Helped Researchers Narrow Down Where To Dig
The team started by examining radar imagery collected by the Sentinel-1 satellite. According to the study, the researchers processed data captured on May 5, 2018, to search for unusual patterns that might signal buried structures.
Those potential targets were then investigated using electrical resistivity tomography, or ERT. The technique measures how electrical currents move through the ground and can reveal hidden walls, buildings, and other archaeological features without disturbing the site.
The researchers said the ERT survey locations were chosen based on anomalies previously identified in satellite imagery. By targeting the areas most likely to contain buried remains, they were able to maximize the effectiveness of the investigation. The approach proved successful, revealing several underground anomalies and providing a detailed view of the site’s hidden features.
A Massive Structure Found Six Meters Underground
The surveys identified different occupation layers at the site. The upper three meters contained what researchers interpreted as broken pottery and debris linked to Roman-era activity. A more significant feature appeared deeper underground. At a depth of roughly six meters, the surveys detected what the team described as a large buried structure.
The findings published in Applied Geophysics showed that the scans detected a substantial buried structure at a depth of about six meters. Based on that depth, the team believes it likely dates to the Saite period, around 2,600 years ago. Researchers noted that the structure’s precise function remains unknown. At the time of the survey, possibilities included a shrine or a tomb.
To investigate further, the team conducted preliminary excavations across a 10-by-10-meter area. The work exposed mudbrick walls whose locations corresponded closely with the anomalies identified by the geophysical surveys, providing direct confirmation that the underground imaging had detected archaeological remains.
Artifacts Point to an Ancient Temple
The excavation produced a number of finds associated with religious activity. The team reported that one of the strongest clues was the discovery of a small offering basin alongside numerous amulets depicting Egyptian deities.
“The presence of a small offering basin along with numerous religious amulets depicting Egyptian deities such as Isis, Horus, Taweret, and Wadjet further supports the temple hypothesis,” said the authors.
Archaeologists also recovered a bronze amulet of Horus the Child, an amulet depicting a crouching lion, and another representing Anubis. Other discoveries included fragments of limestone statues and a faience plaque carved with images of Hathor on both sides. One particularly notable find was a steatite scarab bearing the name of King Thutmose III. It may have been used either as an amulet or as a seal.
“Collectively, these artefacts indicate the presence of a religious site with strong cultic and ceremonial associations, further reinforcing the interpretation of the structure as a temple from the 26th Dynasty,” they noted.
The researchers also noted that another temple could still lie hidden beneath a thick clay layer elsewhere at Buto, a possibility that future surveys will investigate.
