Archeological team unearths gates, clues to history of Tel Basta
Egypt, Culture, 8/2/1997

The excavating team of Zagozig University has reported finding four archeological gates in Tel Basta, Sharkia goverorate, Egypt. The limestone gates range between one to two meters in height, while one of them bears inscriptions in the ancient Egyptian language that reveal much about religious and social life in the area during the old kingdom.

The head of the team, Dr. Mahmoud Omar, stated that the importance of the find is due to the fact that it is the first of its kind in the east Delta, and especially because the found text refers to a new name that has not been mentioned before. The text discloses that named person was chief priest in the city and the only friend to the king. He was one of those that was offered royal gifts.

Dr. Omar explained that these kinds of gates are known as the illusionary gates as they were usually built towards the eastern side of the tomb to serve as the special exits or entrances of the soul into or out of the tomb. It was believed that the souls would receive the offerings of the deceased relatives. The gates were usually built next to the well that leads to the burial chambers. The find, therefore, signifies the existence of a nearby cemetery.

Dr. Omar noted that the find is likely to reveal much about the history of Tel Basta in the old kingdom.

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