IFAO

The joint Egyptian-German Mission of the Ministry of State of

Antiquities, the University of Leipzig at Matariya/Heliopolis, and the

University of Applied Sciences Mainz at Matariya resumed work in the

temple of Heliopolis in 2012. The site is greatly threatened by

modern construction and garbage dumps.

Excavations in the Main Temple Area led to the identification of three

temples sites of Ramesside building activity in the western periphery

of the temenos and a sanctuary for Atum of Nektanebos I. The

exploration of the area of the southeastern fringe of the innermost

part of the temple precinct of Heliopolis uncovered evidence for a

Ptolemaic stratum of workshops. Geophysical and geomorphological

surveys focused on the palaeo-landscape and the earliest strata of the

later precinct.