Austrian archaeologists located a 3,600-year-old underground city, believed to part of the ancient city of Avaris, the capital of the Hyksos, the Ministry of Culture announced Sunday.
The city was located during the Austrian mission’s excavations in the Tel al-Dabaa area, north-east of Cairo, using a radar.
The photos taken give an overview of the urban planning of the city, which appears to be complete, with streets, buildings and temples, Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Supreme Council Of Antiquities, said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Irene Mueller, head of the Austrian team, said that the geophysics archaeological survey work done by the team helped them identify one of the Nile river tributaries that passed through the city, as well as two islands.
The Hyksos were foreign kings who ruled Egypt for around 100 years, known as the Second Intermediate Period of Ancient Egypt (1664-1569 BC), until Ahmose I defeated them and started the New Kingdom.