埃及尼羅河兩岸及三角洲，驕陽似火、晴熱干燥。這里遍布孟菲斯遺址區(qū)、盧克索神廟建筑遺址群等考古“圣地”，是多國尖端考古團隊相繼奔赴的“世界考古C位”。
在2025年10月至12月的第一階段考古工作中，由山東省文物考古研究院與北京大學(xué)考古文博學(xué)院、埃及最高文物委員會組成的中埃聯(lián)合考古隊，首次于孟菲斯遺址區(qū)北部的阿齊茲遺址發(fā)現(xiàn)了古埃及第26王朝法老阿普里斯所建卜塔神廟的關(guān)鍵線索，并有跡象表明在更大范圍內(nèi)可能存在神廟建筑群。
各國考古隊苦尋百年而無果的阿普里斯神廟遺跡，終于在中埃考古人員的努力下即將破土而出，重見天日！
“非常出人意料！”山東省文物考古研究院首次“出海”開展田野考古工作，就在全球矚目的考古遺址取得重大發(fā)現(xiàn)。采訪中，考古工作者講述了他們?nèi)绾芜h赴埃及考古，以及在尼羅河畔拂去堆積數(shù)千年的黃沙喚醒文物和遺跡的故事。
夢幻之旅——
走進“世界考古C位”
埃及是文化遺產(chǎn)最為豐富的國家之一，是全球考古天團的“必爭之地”，高峰時期有數(shù)百支各國考古隊同時作業(yè)。
近年來，埃及考古新發(fā)現(xiàn)不斷震驚世界。多座法老陵墓驚艷現(xiàn)世，古神廟再現(xiàn)風(fēng)華，更多古文明的神秘面紗被揭開。
在埃及獲得一個考古項目，無疑是考古實力的展示和證明。中埃孟菲斯聯(lián)合考古項目的達成，歷經(jīng)重重“闖關(guān)”，可謂好事多磨。
早在2019年，北京大學(xué)考古文博學(xué)院長聘副教授、中埃孟菲斯聯(lián)合考古項目中方負責(zé)人張海便開始積極與埃及溝通，并趕赴尼羅河三角洲實地考察遺址。但由于疫情原因，此事擱置多年。
得益于雙方長期深入的合作，山東省文物考古研究院與北京大學(xué)考古文博學(xué)院于2024年達成“出海”考古的合作意向，并積極與埃及最高文物委員會展開洽談。不久后，對方便提供了多處遺址供中方團隊篩選。張海再次帶隊奔赴埃及，經(jīng)過對六七處遺址進行地表勘探與綜合研判后，最終敲定孟菲斯遺址區(qū)的阿齊茲遺址。
2025年上半年，考古隊申報的考古項目順利獲得審批。2025年10月20日，中方6人考古隊員抵達埃及開羅。10月底，中埃孟菲斯聯(lián)合考古項目（阿齊茲遺址）正式啟動。
“埃及考古無疑是全球考古界向往的熱點領(lǐng)域，多次埃及之行中，我們更深深感受到與這片承載著千年文明的土地有著特殊緣分。”山東省文物考古研究院專職副書記孔勝利坦言，這份緣分以及誠意，成為推動山東考古深度參與埃及考古的重要動力。
“緣分”來之不易，實力也不容忽視。
山東省文物考古研究院人才濟濟，且在田野發(fā)掘、科技考古、基建考古等領(lǐng)域成果豐碩。此次派出的業(yè)務(wù)骨干擁有豐富的田野考古經(jīng)驗，能夠充分發(fā)揮其專業(yè)優(yōu)勢。北大考古隊里，張海是田野考古領(lǐng)域的權(quán)威專家，隊中還不乏主攻阿拉伯語及埃及學(xué)的青年人才。
頂尖學(xué)府與專業(yè)省級文物考古研究院牽手，無疑打造了一支“經(jīng)驗+技術(shù)+多學(xué)科融合”的出海精干小隊。
山東省文物考古研究院商周研究室副主任、聯(lián)合考古隊隊員徐深把這次埃及考古之行稱作“夢幻之旅”。作為四大文明古國之一，古埃及有著燦爛輝煌的文明和星羅棋布的遺跡遺址，其古老文明令人向往。回溯考古史，著名考古學(xué)家、“埃及考古之父”弗林德斯·皮特里早在19世紀末至20世紀初便在埃及孟菲斯遺址上踐行科學(xué)考古理論，為世界考古學(xué)發(fā)展提供了寶貴經(jīng)驗，這種跨越時空與歷史的對話，更讓人心潮澎湃。
“此后的一百多年間，世界各地的考古學(xué)家紛紛奔赴此地開展工作，收獲了豐碩的成果。對一名考古人來說，能前往埃及考古，無疑能幫助其汲取豐富的專業(yè)養(yǎng)分，提升專業(yè)能力。”徐深說道。
黃沙下的文明密碼——
喚醒沉睡2600年的卜塔神廟
之所以在10月底啟動考古項目，是因為在埃及考古的“時間節(jié)點”很重要。
埃及大部分國土位于非洲東北部，屬熱帶沙漠氣候，多數(shù)時候高溫干燥。酷熱炙烤的天氣，不利于考古人員的身體健康和生命安全。每年10月底開始至年底，氣溫降至二三十?dāng)z氏度，此時便迎來考古發(fā)掘的“黃金時間”。
沙漠干燥的風(fēng)，掠過孟菲斯遺址的每一寸沙礫。2025年10月26日，考古隊員做好防曬防護，帶著國產(chǎn)三維掃描儀、探測雷達、探鏟、手鏟、鐵鍬等工具進入遺址，正式開啟首日考古作業(yè)。
孟菲斯位于尼羅河河谷與三角洲的交匯點，是古埃及最古老且最重要的都城之一，相傳公元前3100年左右由第一王朝法老所建。在長達三千年的歷史中，孟菲斯始終扮演著國家行政、經(jīng)濟與宗教中心的核心角色。該城在7世紀逐漸被廢棄，經(jīng)過漫長歲月，其核心區(qū)域最終被深埋于地下。
目前發(fā)現(xiàn)有關(guān)孟菲斯的大量考古遺跡主要分布在今開羅以南緊鄰薩卡拉墓地的Mit Rahina村。阿齊茲遺址即位于其東北部的一處崗丘之上。
張海介紹，1907年，弗林德斯·皮特里就在阿齊茲遺址北區(qū)發(fā)現(xiàn)了國王阿普里斯的宮殿及周邊駐兵軍營，此后一百多年里，英國、美國、葡萄牙等多國考古隊、著名考古人到這里開展工作。“然而，孟菲斯遺址的考古條件非常有限。受河流改道、地下水位抬升、現(xiàn)代城鎮(zhèn)建設(shè)及盜掘擾動等因素影響，相關(guān)考古成果一直相對零散，至今仍未發(fā)現(xiàn)阿普里斯修建的神廟。”
在古埃及的各個時期，若國力比較強盛，法老通常會主持修建或擴建宮殿、神廟，并修建專屬陵墓。阿普里斯是古埃及王國晚期第26王朝的第四任法老，統(tǒng)治時間為公元前589年至公元前570年。得益于對外貿(mào)易等一系列舉措，王國晚期的埃及曾一度復(fù)興。阿普里斯修建的宮殿已被發(fā)現(xiàn)，同時期集宗教祭祀、王權(quán)象征與文化中心的卜塔神廟大概率存在。
黃沙之下，真有神廟等重要遺跡等待被揭開面紗嗎？
孟菲斯會成為中國考古隊出海考古的“福地”嗎？
面對不利的考古條件，以及有可能的考古發(fā)現(xiàn)，張海、徐深以及各位隊員內(nèi)心既忐忑又充滿期待。
張海當(dāng)時心中思忖：各國考古隊的作業(yè)方法、理念不盡相同，他真切地期盼中國考古人探索出來的田野考古理念和方法，以及掌握的前沿考古技術(shù)，能在埃及這片世界考古熱土、在腳下的遺址上，展示出應(yīng)有的硬核實力，讓中國考古學(xué)真正走出國門，走向世界。
隊員們在阿齊茲遺址南區(qū)低階地位置布設(shè)了多個探方，著手進行系統(tǒng)性發(fā)掘工作。發(fā)掘從逐層清理填土開始，每當(dāng)遇到掩埋物，大家用手鏟小心翼翼地一鏟一鏟精細刮除浮土，生怕遺漏任何關(guān)鍵信息。
最先露面的是石頭，隨即大家意識到這是一段石質(zhì)的墻體。隨著發(fā)掘工作的推進，5尊斯芬克斯雕像、一塊同時刻有孟菲斯主神卜塔之名象形文字和羅馬數(shù)字的石構(gòu)件相繼出土。羅馬數(shù)字編號刻在構(gòu)件側(cè)方未經(jīng)打磨處理的角落，為后期添加。考古隊員推測，此地先存在早期的法老時期卜塔神廟，后來神廟被廢棄，羅馬人管理此地時利用和改造了早期神廟的墻體構(gòu)件，作為自己神廟的建材來使用。
“從一開始的期待、忐忑，到不斷有文物出土，考古工作面臨的常態(tài)就是不確定性，每天感覺都不一樣，心情就像坐過山車。”徐深說。
轉(zhuǎn)折發(fā)生在11月中旬——正當(dāng)考古隊員細細打磨一處墻體表面之際，阿普里斯的王名圈赫然跳了出來。
王名圈是古埃及法老的專屬名字符號，是法老權(quán)威的視覺象征。其固定寫作規(guī)范，是在一個圈內(nèi)用象形文字書寫法老王名。“阿普里斯的古埃及王名是‘為拉神的意志歡呼之人’。只要法老王名圈出現(xiàn)，就能確定神廟建筑所處的年代。”徐深解釋道，這些信息大概能斷定，這座神廟祭祀的是古埃及主神卜塔，供奉者是法老阿普里斯。
考古隊繼續(xù)發(fā)掘。一個由長方形房間、石磚鋪砌地面、外圍臺階等組成的結(jié)構(gòu)相對完整的神廟建筑遺跡清晰浮現(xiàn)。更令人驚訝的是，這處建筑下面更深處，還有建筑遺跡！
考古隊員們繼續(xù)勘探，并結(jié)合建筑結(jié)構(gòu)特點與地層堆積序列判定，這一建筑群是一處歷經(jīng)了至少兩個階段營建、使用與廢棄的神廟遺跡——上部晚期殘存是羅馬統(tǒng)治時期的神廟基礎(chǔ)，且使用了曾屬于古埃及阿普里斯統(tǒng)治時期的卜塔神廟建筑構(gòu)件；下部存在更規(guī)整的石質(zhì)建筑結(jié)構(gòu)，推測就是阿普里斯時期的卜塔神廟，但具體確認還有待地下水位降低后進一步發(fā)掘。
“羅馬人征服古埃及后建立新政權(quán)，但會在很長一段時間里延續(xù)當(dāng)?shù)刈诮虃鹘y(tǒng)，繼續(xù)發(fā)揮神廟功能，以維護統(tǒng)治秩序。這個過程中，人們或許會在被戰(zhàn)爭毀壞的神廟廢墟上新建神廟；也有可能早期神廟因河水帶來的泛濫沉積被淹沒，后人便從前人建筑中取材，另行修建新的神廟。”徐深說，在古埃及漫長歷史中，每一座神廟都是被長期沿用的神圣空間，其核心建筑的使用、廢棄、損毀、重建的過程本身極為復(fù)雜，再加上數(shù)千年的河水沖刷、地貌變遷，神廟遺址的復(fù)雜程度或遠超想象，給考古工作增添了不少難度。
去年12月底，第一階段考古工作結(jié)束時，聯(lián)合考古隊只發(fā)掘了新發(fā)現(xiàn)建筑遺跡很小的一小部分。很多謎題，還需在后續(xù)工作中一一解開。
考古與文明的交流對話——
推動山東考古力量走出國門
此次“出海”考古，聯(lián)合考古隊能迅速且精準地發(fā)現(xiàn)阿普里斯修建的卜塔神廟線索，被認為是“運氣足夠好”。然而，回頭看，中方團隊在與埃方隊員保持密切友好協(xié)作的同時，全程踐行了中國考古學(xué)成熟的田野工作理念、方法和技術(shù)。張海此前的期待得到很好印證——這是中國田野考古學(xué)在海外的一次實力展示和成功實踐。
徐深告訴記者，各國考古隊更多聚焦于阿普里斯宮殿內(nèi)部的考古，鮮少對遺址區(qū)域展開整體性工作；而我們擁有非常豐富的大遺址考古、聚落考古經(jīng)驗，習(xí)慣于從古代聚落整體發(fā)展演進的宏觀視野看問題，注重探索大型聚落各功能區(qū)的布局，及其之間的功能關(guān)聯(lián)。“此次我們貼著阿普里斯宮殿城墻向外勘探和發(fā)掘。這個區(qū)域與宮殿相連，又面對著尼羅河河道，理應(yīng)是一個重要的功能區(qū)。果然，這里正是神廟所在地！”
在中國田野考古學(xué)獨具特色的方法體系中，還包括信息提取、文物保護、系統(tǒng)性學(xué)術(shù)研究等更深入的環(huán)節(jié)。考古隊員們每天清晨7點至下午2點，在考古現(xiàn)場忙碌地發(fā)掘、錄入數(shù)據(jù)、保護文物，返回駐地后繼續(xù)進行資料整理、學(xué)術(shù)研討和交流等工作。大家分工明確，有條不紊。
根據(jù)埃及當(dāng)?shù)匚奈锕芾砼c保護的相關(guān)規(guī)定，發(fā)掘出土的遺物在工作期間不能帶離遺址保護區(qū)域。考古隊員在發(fā)掘現(xiàn)場，便已提前介入文物保護工作。
阿齊茲遺址緊挨尼羅河，相關(guān)遺跡又臨近地下水位，出土文物濕度非常高。但埃及氣候干燥，數(shù)千年前的建筑構(gòu)件，從濕潤環(huán)境突然暴露于晝夜溫差懸殊的干燥環(huán)境中，需要出土瞬間就做好保護措施。
“比如構(gòu)成墻體的方形石塊，出土暴露在空氣中后，會在每天清晨于表面形成一層器體腐化而產(chǎn)生的‘白霜’，石塊本體也隨之變得脆弱易碎。在出土之時，我們盡量做好現(xiàn)場試劑封護，隔絕文物和空氣的接觸，避免石頭變脆弱。”徐深表示，出土文物保護比較棘手，在發(fā)掘過程中，中方考古隊員與埃及文物保護專家通力協(xié)商合作，最大程度守護好每一件文物。
在現(xiàn)場信息提取和數(shù)字化工作方面，張海稱此次考古攜帶了全國產(chǎn)三維掃描設(shè)備“文保一號”，在不被允許使用無人機的情況下，保障并提升了考古工作的質(zhì)量。該設(shè)備能夠采集高精度全景影像數(shù)據(jù)，能系統(tǒng)提取多維度遺跡遺物信息，為后期數(shù)字化記錄、模擬拼對修復(fù)、線上呈現(xiàn)展出等工作提供便利……
根據(jù)勘探，下部建筑遺跡的石墻還在往更遠處延伸，徐深推測除神廟單體建筑外，或許還有更多附屬建筑或設(shè)施，一個完整的神廟建筑群，往往還包含有圍墻、斯芬克斯大道、大門、靠近尼羅河的碼頭等。如今泥坯磚所搭構(gòu)的外圍墻體、成組的斯芬克斯雕像已經(jīng)發(fā)現(xiàn)。在更深的地下幾米至十?dāng)?shù)米的地方，或許藏著一個完整神廟建筑群落。
然而，阿齊茲遺址合作項目目前發(fā)掘最深僅達地下3米，后續(xù)仍有大量工作待開展。這無疑是一場無法在短時間內(nèi)完成的考古工程。
1月至5月為尼羅河低水位期。考古隊員們回國休整一段時間后，將于3月下旬重返埃及，繼續(xù)開展工作。
有了去年的工作經(jīng)歷，再赴埃及，張海考慮擴大隊伍，增加擅長繪圖、文物修復(fù)與報告編寫的人員，盡可能地高效開展更多工作。下一步的發(fā)掘中，將在遺址內(nèi)新布設(shè)探方，力爭將整個合作項目區(qū)域中的遺跡摸清楚。“往更遠大的目標考慮，我們打算運用中國大遺址考古理念、中國的技術(shù)，將孟菲斯遺址區(qū)上百年來幾十支考古隊所做的工作，進行系統(tǒng)、全面的數(shù)字化呈現(xiàn)……”
張海說，埃及對此次考古新發(fā)現(xiàn)也倍感意外，評價很好，此次合作項目的成功開展，得益于中埃聯(lián)合考古隊雙方互相的信任，也源于埃及對中國田野考古工作方法的認可，以及大家文物保護理念的契合。
中埃孟菲斯聯(lián)合考古項目（阿齊茲遺址）的考古成果在馬年春節(jié)期間對外公布。埃及旅游和文物部于今年2月19日也宣布了這一新發(fā)現(xiàn)。
在接受新華社采訪時，埃及最高文物委員會秘書長希沙姆·萊西說，阿齊茲遺址南部屬于孟菲斯遺址的核心區(qū)域。中埃聯(lián)合考古隊的發(fā)現(xiàn)將深化對孟菲斯城市布局的認識，并為了解該城從古埃及后期至古希臘羅馬時期的宗教實踐提供重要線索。
對于此次赴埃及考古的深層意義，山東省文化和旅游廳副廳長、山東省文物局副局長孫波告訴記者，長期以來，西方考古學(xué)界對埃及文明的研究多聚焦于神廟、陵墓等標志性遺存，對遺址的發(fā)掘并不系統(tǒng)和全面，這與大家了解的中華文明清晰的文明演進軌跡形成了鮮明對比。作為四大文明古國，中國和埃及的文明區(qū)別很大，但也有共性的部分。如果開展文明交流互鑒，首先需要對其有基本的了解。“孟菲斯遺址的考古工作正成為破解認知謎題的關(guān)鍵。聯(lián)合考古隊隊員正通過系統(tǒng)發(fā)掘，為深化埃及文明認知提供了珍貴實物史料。這些發(fā)現(xiàn)將推動兩國學(xué)者從文明起源、社會演進、技術(shù)發(fā)展等維度，開展更系統(tǒng)的對比研究，探尋兩大文明的共性特質(zhì)與獨特路徑。”
孫波認為，中埃聯(lián)合考古本質(zhì)上是一場跨越時空的文明對話，其價值不僅在于發(fā)掘文物、還原歷史，更在于為當(dāng)今國際文化交流與人類社會共存提供源自祖先的智慧借鑒。“跳出中國看中國、跳出亞洲看中國，已成為當(dāng)代文明研究的重要課題。中埃聯(lián)合考古不僅是學(xué)術(shù)理念交流的生動實踐，更開啟了一項意義深遠的百年大計。從當(dāng)下的年輕學(xué)者到未來的數(shù)代學(xué)者，將會持續(xù)不斷地深耕對兩大文明的認知，讓文明互鑒的力量為構(gòu)建人類命運共同體注入持久動能。”
在孫波看來，山東憑借國家政策的有力引導(dǎo)與資金的持續(xù)投入，以及深厚扎實的考古學(xué)科積淀，積極參與國際考古合作，不僅是滿足自身學(xué)術(shù)發(fā)展需求的必然選擇，更是推動中華文化走向世界舞臺、促進不同文明交流互鑒的關(guān)鍵實踐。
采訪接近尾聲，又傳來好消息。
孔勝利告訴記者，中埃聯(lián)合考古工作隊正計劃在埃及設(shè)立工作站，目前正在積極選址。未來聯(lián)合考古隊將繼續(xù)申請新遺址，繼續(xù)考古發(fā)掘工作。山東省文物考古研究院還將與埃及展開展覽、學(xué)術(shù)交流等合作。
不只是埃及，孔勝利表示，今年山東考古隊員將前往塞爾維亞啟動中塞聯(lián)合考古工作。這將是我省開展的首個海外基建考古項目。
Along the banks of the Nile and its delta in Egypt, the sun blazes in a scorching, arid climate. Home to such archaeological landmarks as the Memphis archaeological site and the Luxor Temple complex, this region stands as the world’s epicenter of archaeology, drawing leading archaeological teams from across the globe.
During the first phase of excavations from October to December 2025, the China-Egypt Joint Archaeological Team—comprising Shandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, the School of Archaeology and Museology of Peking University, and the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt—uncovered for the first time key evidence of the Temple of Ptah built by Pharaoh Apries of the 26th Dynasty of ancient Egypt at Tell Aziz, in the northern part of the Memphis archaeological site. Findings also indicate that a larger temple complex may exist in the surrounding area.
The ruins of the Temple of Apries, which had eluded researchers worldwide for a century, are finally emerging into the light thanks to the joint efforts of Chinese and Egyptian archaeologists!
“What an extraordinary surprise!” In its first overseas field archaeology project, Shandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology has made a major discovery at one of the world’s most high-profile archaeological sites. In an interview, the archaeologists recounted their expedition to Egypt and how they brushed away thousands of years of sand along the Nile to uncover and restore ancient artifacts and ruins.
A Dream Journey
Stepping into the “Center of World Archaeology”
Egypt is one of the world’s richest countries in cultural heritage and a highly sought-after destination for leading archaeological teams from across the globe. At its peak, hundreds of international archaeological missions are active here at the same time.
In recent years, new archaeological discoveries in Egypt have continued to astound the world. A host of pharaonic tombs have been unearthed, ancient temples have been restored to their former glory, and more mysteries of this ancient civilization have been unveiled.
Securing an archaeological project in Egypt is a clear testament to archaeological strength. The China-Egypt joint archaeological project in Memphis was realized only after overcoming numerous hurdles and challenges, a true mark of perseverance and dedication.
As early as 2019, Dr. Zhang Hai, a tenured associate professor at the School of Archaeology and Museology of Peking University and the Chinese director of the China-Egypt Memphis Joint Archaeological Project, began active communication with the Egyptian side and traveled to the Nile Delta to conduct field surveys of potential sites. However, the initiative was put on hold for years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thanks to the longstanding and in-depth cooperation between the two sides, the Shandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and the School of Archaeology and Museology of Peking University reached an agreement in 2024 to carry out joint overseas archaeological excavations. They promptly engaged in negotiations with the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt, which soon offered a number of sites for the Chinese team to evaluate. Zhang Hai led another expedition to Egypt, and after conducting surface surveys and comprehensive assessments of six or seven sites, the team finally selected Tell Aziz in the Memphis archaeological area.
In the first half of 2025, the archaeological project proposed by the team was successfully approved. On October 20, 2025, six Chinese archaeologists arrived in Cairo, Egypt. By the end of October, the China-Egypt Joint Archaeological Mission at Memphis (Tell Aziz site)was officially launched.
“Egyptian archaeology is undoubtedly a highly sought-after field within the global archaeological community. During our many trips to Egypt, we have developed a profound bond with this land of millennia-old civilization,”said Kong Shengli, Full-time Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Shandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology.He added that this connection and sincerity have been key driving forces behind Shandong’s in-depth participation in archaeological endeavors in Egypt.
Such a valuable partnership is hard to come by, and strength speaks for itself.
Shandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology boasts a strong team of professionals with remarkable achievements in field excavation, technological archaeology, and infrastructure-related archaeology. The core team members dispatched possess extensive field archaeology experience and can give full play to their professional strengths. From Peking University’s archaeological team, Zhang Hai is an authoritative expert in field archaeology, and the team also includes young talents specializing in Arabic and Egyptology.
The collaboration between a top university and a leading provincial cultural relics and archaeology institute has forged a highly capable overseas team that combines experience, technology and interdisciplinary integration.
Xu Shen, Deputy Director of the Shang and Zhou Archaeology Research Office, Shandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, and a member of the joint archaeological team, described this archaeological expedition to Egypt as a “dream journey.”As one of the Four Great Ancient Civilizations, ancient Egypt boasted a splendid civilization and numerous sites and relics scattered across its land, making it a source of endless fascination.In the history of archaeology, the renowned archaeologist Flinders Petrie, known as “the Father of Egyptian Archaeology”, pioneered scientific archaeological methods at the Memphis site in Egypt from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, providing invaluable experience for the development of world archaeology. This dialogue across time and history is truly inspiring.
“Over the more than 100 years since, archaeologists from all over the world have come to work here and achieved fruitful results. For an archaeologist, being able to work in Egypt is undoubtedly an opportunity to gain rich professional experience and enhance professional capabilities,” Xu Shen said.
Civilization Code Beneath the Yellow Sand
Awakening the Temple of Ptah After 2,600 Years
The reason for launching the excavation project at the end of October is that timing is critical for archaeological work in Egypt.
Most of Egypt lies in northeastern Africa and has a tropical desert climate that is hot and dry for much of the year. Extreme heat poses risks to the health and safety of archaeologists. From late October to the end of each year, temperatures drop to 20–30 degrees Celsius, marking the golden season for archaeological excavation.
The dry desert wind sweeps over every grain of sand at the Memphis site.On October 26, 2025, fully protected from the sun, the archaeological team entered the site equipped with Chinese-made 3D scanners, ground-penetrating radar (GPR), exploration shovels, hand trowels, spades and other tools, officially beginning their first day of fieldwork.
Memphis lies at the intersection of the Nile Valley and the Nile Delta. It was one of the oldest and most important capitals of ancient Egypt, traditionally founded around 3100 BCE by the pharaohs of the First Dynasty. For three millennia, Memphis served as the nation’s administrative, economic, and religious center. The city was gradually abandoned in the 7th century CE, and over time its core area became deeply buried underground.
Most of the extensive archaeological remains of Memphis discovered so far are concentrated in the modern village of Mit Rahina, just south of Cairo and adjacent to the Saqqara Necropolis. The Tell Aziz site occupies a low hill to its northeast.
According to Zhang Hai, in 1907, Flinders Petrie uncovered the palace of King Apries and nearby military barracks in the northern part of the Tell Aziz site. Over the following century, archaeological teams and prominent archaeologists from the United Kingdom, the United States, Portugal, and other countries conducted work here.“However, archaeological conditions at the Memphis site are severely limited. Affected by shifts in the course of the Nile, rising groundwater levels, modern urban development, and looting, archaeological findings have remained fragmented. To this day, the temple built by Apries has yet to be discovered,” he noted.
In various periods of ancient Egypt, when the kingdom was strong and prosperous, pharaohs would usually commission the construction or expansion of palaces and temples, as well as build their own royal tombs.Apries was the fourth pharaoh of the 26th Dynasty during the Late Period of ancient Egypt, ruling from 589 BCE to 570 BCE. Thanks to a series of policies including foreign trade, Egypt experienced a period of revival in the Late Period.His palace has already been discovered, and it is highly likely that the Temple of Ptah—which served as a center for religious worship, a symbol of royal authority, and a cultural hub—was built at the same time.
Beneath the yellow sand, do important ruins such as a temple await discovery?
Will Memphis become a “l(fā)and of opportunity” for Chinese archaeological teams working overseas?
Faced with challenging archaeological conditions and the promise of potential discoveries, Zhang Hai, Xu Shen, and their fellow team members felt both anxious and full of anticipation.
Zhang Hai reflected at the time:Different countries’ archaeological teams employ different methods and working philosophies. He sincerely hoped that the field archaeology concepts and approaches developed by Chinese archaeologists, as well as the cutting-edge technologies they command, could demonstrate their due strength on this world-renowned archaeological land of Egypt and at the site beneath their feet. His aspiration was to enable Chinese archaeology to truly go global and reach the wider world.
At the Tell Aziz site, the team set up multiple excavation units in the lower terrace of the southern area and began systematic excavation work.Digging started with the layer-by-layer removal of fill deposits. Whenever buried remains were encountered, the team carefully scraped away the overlying soil inch by inch with hand trowels, fearful of missing any critical information.
Stone was the first to emerge, and the team immediately recognized it as a section of a stone wall. As excavation progressed, five sphinx statues and a stone block inscribed with both hieroglyphs of Ptah, the chief god of Memphis, and Roman numerals were successively unearthed. The Roman numeral designation was carved into an unpolished corner on the side of the block, added at a later date.Archaeologists hypothesize that an early Pharaonic-period Temple of Ptah originally stood on the site. After the temple fell into disuse, the Romans, who later administered the area, repurposed its stone wall blocks as building materials for their own temple.
“From the initial anticipation and anxiety to the continuous discovery of artifacts, uncertainty is the norm in archaeology. Every day feels different, and the mood is like a roller coaster,” said Xu Shen.
The turning point came in mid-November. As the archaeologists were carefully cleaning the surface of a wall, the cartouche of Apries suddenly came into view.
A cartouche is an exclusive royal name symbol of ancient Egyptian pharaohs and a visual emblem of their authority. Following a fixed writing convention, it encloses the pharaoh’s name in hieroglyphs within an oval frame. “Apries’ ancient Egyptian royal name means ‘He who rejoices in the will of Ra’,” explained Xu Shen. “The presence of a pharaoh’s cartouche allows us to precisely date the temple structure. This evidence strongly indicates that the temple was dedicated to Ptah, the chief god of Memphis, and was commissioned by Pharaoh Apries.”
The team continued their excavation. A relatively complete temple complex then emerged clearly, consisting of rectangular chambers, stone-paved floors, and outer steps. Even more astonishingly, additional architectural remains were found deeper beneath this structure.
The archaeological team continued their exploration. Based on the architectural features and stratigraphic sequence, they determined that the complex was a temple ruin constructed, used, and abandoned in at least two phases.The upper, later remains represented the foundation of a temple from the Roman period, which reused architectural elements from the Temple of Ptah built during the reign of Pharaoh Apries in ancient Egypt. Below these lay a more regular stone structure, presumed to be the original Temple of Ptah from Apries’ era, although final confirmation awaited further excavation once groundwater levels dropped.
“After conquering ancient Egypt and establishing a new regime, the Romans maintained local religious traditions for a long time and kept temples in operation to consolidate their rule. During this period, new temples might have been built on the ruins of those damaged by war; alternatively, early temples could have been buried by flood deposits from the river, and later generations reused materials from earlier structures to build new ones,” said Xu Shen.In the long history of ancient Egypt, every temple was a sacred space used over an extended period. The processes of use, abandonment, destruction, and reconstruction of their core structures were highly complex. Coupled with thousands of years of river erosion and topographic changes, the temple remains are far more complicated than imagined, adding considerable difficulty to archaeological work.
By the end of December last year, when the first phase of archaeological work concluded, the joint archaeological team had excavated only a tiny fraction of the newly discovered architectural remains. Many questions still await answers in subsequent fieldwork.
Dialogue between Archaeology and Civilization: Advancing Shandong's Archaeological Efforts onto the Global Stage
In this overseas archaeological endeavor, the joint archaeological team's ability to swiftly and precisely identify clues pointing to the Temple of Ptah constructed by Apries is regarded as "considerably fortunate." However, in retrospect, the Chinese team, while maintaining close and friendly cooperation with their Egyptian counterparts, fully implemented the mature principles, methods, and techniques of Chinese fieldwork archaeology throughout the process. Zhang Hai's earlier expectations were well validated—it represents a powerful demonstration of Chinese field archaeology's capabilities and a successful practice on foreign soil.
Xu Shen told the reporter that archaeological teams from various countries have primarily focused on excavations within the Apries palace itself, rarely conducting comprehensive work on the site as a whole. In contrast, the Chinese team possesses extensive experience in large-scale site archaeology and settlement archaeology, accustomed to examining issues from a macroscopic perspective of the overall development and evolution of ancient settlements. They emphasize exploring the layout of functional zones within large settlements and the functional relationships between them. "This time, we conducted surveys and excavations outward from the walls of the Apries palace. This area connects to the palace and faces the Nile River channel, which logically should constitute an important functional zone. Indeed, this is precisely where the temple was located!"
Within the distinctive methodological system of Chinese field archaeology, more advanced components also include information extraction, cultural heritage conservation, and systematic academic research. Each day, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., the archaeological team members are busily engaged at the excavation site—digging, recording data, and protecting cultural relics. Upon returning to their base, they continue with data organization, academic seminars, and exchange activities. Everyone has clearly defined responsibilities, proceeding in an orderly and methodical manner.
According to local Egyptian regulations on cultural heritage management and protection, excavated artifacts cannot be removed from the site protection area during the working period. Archaeological team members therefore intervene in conservation work at the excavation site itself.
The Tell Aziz site lies adjacent to the Nile River, and the associated remains are located near the groundwater table, resulting in extremely high humidity levels for excavated artifacts. However, given Egypt's arid climate, architectural components thousands of years old—when suddenly exposed from a moist environment to a dry environment with extreme diurnal temperature variations—require immediate conservation measures at the moment of excavation.
"For instance, the square stone blocks that form the walls, after being exposed to the air after excavation, develop a layer of ‘white efflorescence' on their surfaces every morning due to the deterioration of the stone body itself, while the blocks simultaneously become fragile and friable. At the time of excavation, we strive to conduct on-site reagent sealing to isolate the artifacts from contact with air, preventing the stones from becoming brittle,"explained Xu Shen. He noted that the conservation of excavated artifacts presents considerable challenges. Throughout the excavation process, Chinese team members have engaged in full consultation and cooperation with Egyptian conservation specialists to safeguard every artifact to the greatest extent possible.
Regarding on-site information extraction and digital documentation, Zhang Hai stated that the team brought the domestically produced 3D scanning device "Wenbao-1" (literally "Cultural Heritage No. 1"). In situations where drone use was prohibited, this equipment ensured and enhanced the quality of archaeological work. The device is capable of collecting high-precision panoramic imagery data and systematically extracting multi-dimensional information about relics and remains, facilitating subsequent digital recording, simulated reconstruction and restoration, and online exhibition.
According to the survey, the stone walls of the lower architectural remains continue to extend further. Xu Shen speculated that beyond the temple structure itself, there may be additional ancillary buildings or facilities. A complete temple complex typically includes enclosure walls, a Sphinx Avenue, gates, and a riverside quay near the Nile. To date, the outer walls constructed of mud bricks and groups of sphinx statues have been discovered. Several meters to more than ten meters deeper underground, a complete temple complex may lie hidden.
However, the Tell Aziz collaborative project has reached a maximum depth of only 3 meters; substantial work remains to be carried out. This is undoubtedly an archaeological endeavor that cannot be completed in a short time.
January to May marks the Nile's low-water season. After a period of rest and recuperation back in China, the team will return to Egypt in late March to continue their work.
Drawing on last year's work experience, Zhang Hai is considering expanding the team for his return to Egypt by adding personnel skilled in technical drawing, artifact restoration, and report compilation, so as to carry out more work as efficiently as possible. In the next phase of excavation, new trial trenches will be laid out within the site, with the goal of thoroughly documenting all remains in the cooperative project area. "Looking toward broader objectives, we intend to apply China's large-site archaeology concepts and technologies to systematically and comprehensively digitize the work conducted by dozens of archaeological teams at the Memphis site area over the past century," Zhang said.
Zhang Hai noted that Egyptian authorities were also pleasantly surprised by these new discoveries and have given highly positive evaluations. The successful implementation of this cooperative project, he said, stems from the mutual trust between the Chinese and Egyptian sides of the joint archaeological team, as well as Egypt's recognition of Chinese field archaeology methodologies and the alignment of both sides' cultural heritage conservation philosophies.
The archaeological results of the China-Egypt Joint Archaeological Mission at Memphis (Tell Aziz site) were announced during the Spring Festival of the Year of the Horse. Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities also announced this discovery on February 19 this year.
In an interview with Xinhua News Agency, Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, stated that the southern part of Tell Aziz belongs to the core area of the ancient city of Memphis. The discoveries by the China-Egypt joint archaeological team will deepen understanding of Memphis's urban layout and provide crucial clues for understanding the city's religious practices from the Late Period of ancient Egypt through the Greco-Roman period.
Regarding the deeper significance of this archaeological mission to Egypt, Sun Bo, Vice Director of Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and Deputy Director of Shandong Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration, told reporters that Western archaeology has long focused on iconic remains such as temples and tombs, without systematic and comprehensive excavation of sites—a sharp contrast to the clear trajectory of civilization evolution familiar in Chinese archaeology. As two of the world's four great ancient civilizations, China and Egypt have vastly different civilizations, yet share commonalities. "If we are to conduct exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, we must first have a basic understanding of each other. The archaeological work at the Memphis site is becoming key to unlocking this cognitive puzzle. Through systematic excavation, team members are providing precious physical materials for deepening the understanding of Egyptian civilization. These discoveries will promote more systematic comparative research between scholars of both countries on dimensions such as the origins of civilization, social evolution, and technological development, exploring the shared characteristics and unique paths of the two great civilizations."
Sun Bo believes that the China-Egypt joint archaeology is essentially a dialogue between civilizations across time and space. Its value lies not only in excavating artifacts and reconstructing history, but also in providing wisdom inherited from our ancestors for today's international cultural exchanges and the coexistence of human societies. "Viewing China from beyond China, viewing China from beyond Asia has become an important subject in contemporary civilization studies. The China-Egypt joint archaeology is not only a vivid practice of academic exchange, but also initiates a project of vital and lasting importance. From the young scholars of today to generations of scholars in the future, we will continue to deepen our understanding of these two great civilizations, allowing the power of mutual learning between civilizations to inject lasting momentum into building a community with a shared future for mankind."
In Sun Bo's view, with strong policy guidance and sustained funding from the state, as well as its profound and solid academic foundation in archaeology, Shandong's active participation in international archaeological cooperation is not only an inevitable choice for meeting its own academic development needs, but also a crucial practice for promoting Chinese culture onto the world stage and fostering mutual learning between civilizations.
As the interview drew to a close, more good news arrived.
Kong Shengli told reporters that the China-Egypt joint archaeological team is planning to establish an archaeological workstation in Egypt and is currently actively selecting a site. In the future, the joint team will continue to apply for new sites and carry out archaeological excavation work. The SShandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology will also cooperate with Egypt on exhibitions and academic exchanges.
Egypt is not the only focus, Kong Shenglinoted.Shandong archaeologists will travel to Serbia this year to launch a China-Serbia joint archaeological project, which will be the province's first overseas infrastructure-related archaeological initiative.
統(tǒng)籌：朱德蒙 武瑋佳
文案：師文靜 朱德蒙
翻譯：武瑋佳 徐明業(yè)
配音：武瑋佳
剪輯：郭篤帥
設(shè)計：李文俊