The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery in the Kafr el-Sheikh governorate on social media.
The observatory, constructed from clay bricks, was of immense significance to the Egyptians, who have long understood the movements of celestial bodies.
“This highlights the profound astronomical knowledge of the ancient Egyptians, particularly their ability to determine the solar calendar and important religious and agricultural dates,” said Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA). He added that the structure of the building provides insight into the complex technologies employed by the ancient Egyptians.
The area of the astronomical observatory covered approximately 850 square meters, according to Arkeonews.
This sizable building features an entrance facing east, where the sun rises, a central columned hall shaped like an L, and a tall brick wall with an inward slope. Archaeologists also discovered five rooms that were likely used for storing tools, four smaller rooms, and a small stone chamber that served as the observatory’s tower.
One of the most intriguing finds is a rare slanted stone sundial, known as a “shadow” sundial. It consisted of a series of straight limestone slabs measuring 4.80 meters in length. The slanted lines on these slabs were designed to measure shadows and the angle of the sun, facilitating the tracking of the celestial body’s movement throughout the day.
Researchers also uncovered a stone attached to the floor of a circular chamber inside the observatory, along with two additional round stones used for measuring the sun’s incline.
In addition, archaeologists unearthed a multitude of artifacts, including a statue from the 26th dynasty, a merchet (a device for measuring time at night), as well as various religious items and pottery related to daily life and rituals.
This discovery underscores the importance of Egyptian archaeological efforts in revealing new facets of the country’s rich past and helps deepen our understanding of the scientific and religious life of the ancient Egyptians.