IFAO

Since the year 2000, 81 areas have been excavated by the joint mission of the Swiss Institute for Architectural and Archaeological Research on Ancient Egypt in Cairo and by the Egyptian Ministry of State for Antiquities (Aswan Inspectorate) in the area now covered by „Old Aswan“. Most of these investigations were rescue excavations.

During recent years work in the protected areas was resumed and brought new crucial insights into the history of Syene during the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods. Special focus will be put on the results from Area 2 (in the modern „Birket Damas“ district). Here the emergence of Syene from a garrison town protected by massive walls in the Persian Period to the capital of the First Cataract in the Roman Period and – finally – to one of the most important cities of Early Islamic and Medieval Egypt became especially evident.

The combined results of excavations, observations of modern foundation pits and a geomorphological survey together with historical, geographical and epigraphical data allow a first glimpse at the topographical and historical development of Aswan and its surroundings.