Egypt says village found in Nile Delta predated pharaohs

Neolithic site discovered in Tell el-Samara containing food silos, animal bones, indicating human habitation as early as 5000 BCE

By AP 2 September 2018, 6:41 pm Edit

This undated photo shows one of the oldest villages ever found in the Nile Delta, with remains dating back to before the pharaohs in Tell el-Samara, about 140 kilometers (87 miles) north of Cairo, Egypt. (Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities via AP)

CAIRO — Egypt said Sunday that archaeologists have unearthed one of the oldest villages ever found in the Nile Delta, with remains dating back to before the pharaohs.

The Antiquities Ministry said the Neolithic site was discovered in Tell el-Samara, about 140 kilometers (87 miles) north of Cairo.

Chief archaeologist Frederic Gio said his team found silos containing animal bones and food, indicating human habitation as early as 5000 BCE.

That would be some 2,500 years before the Giza pyramids were built.

In recent years, Egypt has touted discoveries in the hopes of reviving tourism after the unrest that followed its 2011 popular uprising.