Hisham El-Leithy, SCA’s Secretary-General, explained that the mission uncovered remains of a sandstone chamber along with inscribed stone blocks bearing the names and titles of King Psamtik I.
A number of artefacts were also found, contributing to a clearer understanding of the temple’s architectural layout and historical development.
El-Leithy described the discovery as further evidence of the Old Qasr site’s historical and archaeological significance, noting that it served as an important religious and administrative centre across successive periods.
He added that the findings shed new light on the history of the Bahariya Oasis and its links to the ancient Egyptian state.
Excavation work at the site began in 2014 and has continued through the 2026 season. The temple’s construction dates back to the reign of King Psamtik I and was later completed during the reigns of Kings Wahibre (Apries) and Amasis II.
Mohamed Abdel Badei, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the SCA, said that among the distinguished discoveries is the temple’s main hypostyle hall, which features 16 sandstone columns, as well as several adjoining rooms and chapels.
The mission also uncovered remains of hieroglyphic inscriptions documenting the names of ancient Egyptian deities, including Amun-Re, Amunet, and Khonsu.
The team further discovered a stone stela dating to the reign of King Amenhotep II of the 18th Dynasty, with inscriptions confirming the Bahariya Oasis’s connection to the Egyptian state since the New Kingdom.
Artefacts from the reign of King Ramses II were also found, indicating earlier phases of religious and architectural activity at the site.
Previous excavation seasons revealed the temple’s name, “Ibp-Set” (House of the Heart), through a metal seal discovered on site.
Additional finds include a statue of the deity Thoth, a bronze statue of Osiris, a bronze amulet of Re-Horakhty, and the head of a statue believed to depict a prominent priest or official in the Bahariya Oasis.
A shrine belonging to the local ruler and priest Pa-di-Iset was also uncovered.
Archaeologists asserted that evidence uncovered suggests that the site remained in use during the Greek and Roman periods and continued into the 4th and 5th centuries AD.
This conclusion is supported by the discovery of ostraca and texts written in Coptic and Latin, as well as industrial installations and basins used to produce wine and oils, and storage areas.
The Old Qasr site is considered one of the most significant archaeological locations in the Bahariya Oasis, having served as the region’s ancient capital during the Late Period.
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