Geoarchaeological study reveals Karnak Temple's 3,000-year evolution
A new geoarchaeological survey has uncovered the transformation of Egypt's Karnak Temple from a flood-prone island to a major ancient religious center. Researchers analyzed sediments and pottery to trace its history over three millennia, linking its location to ancient creation myths. The findings, published in Antiquity, suggest the temple's earliest occupation dates to the Old Kingdom around 2305-1980 BCE.
Karnak Temple, located 500 meters east of the present-day River Nile near Luxor in ancient Thebes, is one of the largest temple complexes in the ancient world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. An international team led by Dr. Angus Graham of Uppsala University, with researchers from the University of Southampton, conducted the most comprehensive geoarchaeological survey of the site. They analyzed 61 sediment cores from within and around the temple, along with tens of thousands of ceramic fragments, to map landscape changes over its 3,000-year history.
Prior to about 2520 BCE, the area was regularly flooded by fast-flowing Nile waters, making it unsuitable for permanent occupation. The earliest evidence of human activity dates to the Old Kingdom (c. 2591-2152 BCE), with ceramic fragments from between c. 2305 and 1980 BCE confirming this timeline. The land formed as an island of high ground when river channels to the west and east cut into their beds, providing a foundation for early construction in the east/south-east of the temple precinct.
Over centuries, the channels diverged, allowing the complex to expand. The study revealed that the eastern channel was more well-defined and possibly larger than the western one, contrary to previous assumptions. "The river channels surrounding the site shaped how the temple could develop and where, with new construction taking place on top of old rivers as they silted up," said co-author Dominic Barker from the University of Southampton. Ancient Egyptians influenced the landscape by dumping desert sands into channels, potentially to create building land.
The site's geography mirrors the ancient Egyptian creation myth, where the creator god emerged as high ground from primeval waters. "It's tempting to suggest the Theban elites chose Karnak's location for the dwelling place of a new form of the creator god, 'Ra-Amun', as it fitted the cosmogonical scene of high ground emerging from surrounding water," noted lead author Dr. Ben Pennington. During the Middle Kingdom (c. 1980-1760 BCE), receding floodwaters would have made the mound appear to rise, echoing the myth.
"This new research provides unprecedented detail on the evolution of Karnak Temple, from a small island to one of the defining institutions of Ancient Egypt," Dr. Pennington added. The team, supported by grants from the Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse and others, plans further studies across the Luxor floodplain under permits from Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.