Ruins of 7,000-year-old city found in Egypt oasis

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In summary, a team of US archaeologists has discovered the ruins of a 7,000-year-old city in Egypt's Fayyum oasis. The remnants of the city, dating back to the Neolithic period, were found using an electromagnetic survey and are still buried under the sand. The details of this discovery will be revealed at a later time. This discovery adds to the known existence of other Neolithic agricultural "city" sites, such as Ban-Po in China and the Indus River Valley civilization.
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080129/wl_mideast_afp/egyptarchaeology

CAIRO (AFP) - A team of US archaeologists has discovered the ruins of a city dating back to the period of the first farmers 7,000 years ago in Egypt's Fayyum oasis, the supreme council of antiquities said on Tuesday.

"An electromagnetic (presumably GPR) survey revealed the existence in the Karanis region of a network of walls and roads similar to those constructed during the Greco-Roman period," the council's chief Zahi Hawwas said.

The remnants of the city are "still buried beneath the sand and the details of this discovery will be revealed in due course," Hawwas said.

The remains date back to the Neolithic period between 5,200 and 4,500 BC!

Pretty cool.
 
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There are a lot of Neolithic agricultural "city" sites, Ban-Po is the most famous, in China. They all date between 5000 and 7000BCE. Most of them were millet growing cultures, not rice.
 
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The Indus River Valley civilization is another interesting one. Search Harappa on google for more information, there's a bunch of research going into these historical sites, fascinating stuff.
 

1. What is the significance of the ruins of the 7,000-year-old city found in Egypt oasis?

The discovery of this city is significant because it provides evidence of a previously unknown ancient civilization in the Western Desert of Egypt. It also sheds light on the development and spread of early urban settlements in the region.

2. How were the ruins of the 7,000-year-old city found?

The ruins were discovered using satellite imagery and ground surveys. The satellite images revealed a series of mounds and structures in the area, which led to further investigation and the eventual discovery of the city.

3. What kind of artifacts have been found at the ruins?

Archaeologists have found a variety of artifacts at the site, including pottery, tools, and jewelry. These artifacts provide insight into the daily lives and activities of the people who lived in the city.

4. What can we learn from studying the ruins of this ancient city?

Studying the ruins can provide information about the architecture, layout, and organization of the city, as well as the social and economic structures of the civilization that inhabited it. It can also give us a better understanding of the development and decline of ancient urban settlements.

5. How will this discovery impact our understanding of ancient Egyptian history?

This discovery adds to our knowledge of the early development and spread of civilizations in Egypt, particularly in the Western Desert region. It also challenges previous assumptions about the extent of human settlement in the area during this time period.

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