News & updates
Our Blog
Volume 1 of the Swedish Expedition to Gebel el-Silsila – the Greek inscriptions
by Silsila | Jun 23, 2023
Finally, after many years of analyses and continuous documentation, we are incredibly proud to present the first volume of our monographic series called The Swedish Expedition to Gebel el-Silsila. The first publication focuses on the Greek inscriptions on the East...
Gebel el-Silsila Through The Ages Part 2: The Middle Kingdom
by Silsila | Jun 1, 2022 | Publications, Rock Art
Gebel el-Silsila was an important quarrying site from earliest times, offering a plentiful supply of good quality sandstone for pharaoh’s building projects, as well as being a vital strategic trading point on the boundary between Egypt and Nubia.A Continuation of Rock...
Article series in Ancient Egypt Magazine
by Silsila | May 5, 2022 | Publications, Rock Art
Gebel el-Silsila through the Ages Over the past couple of years, we have been writing shorter archaeological (popular scientific) papers for Ancient Egypt Magazine, discussing the history of the Gebel el-Silsila area, our fieldwork, and some more detailed views on...
In Memoriam Carter
by Silsila | Mar 12, 2022 | General
Eight years ago, Ahmed brought to us in our home in Luxor the most adorable little white fluff ball, a pup who was given the mighty name of Carter. He immediately became a beloved family member, but also a most welcome protector and companion while exploring the great...
Updates from the Temple of Sobek
by Silsila | Mar 4, 2022 | Discoveries, Temple of Sobek
Since the initial survey of the Temple of Sobek at Gebel el-Silsila in 2015, the Mission has discovered a connected temple structure towards the Nile containing sandstone foundations, a mudbrick surrounding, and a unique circular shaft nicknamed the “pit of Sobek”....
Celebrating 15 seasons and 10 years on site!
by Silsila | Dec 3, 2021 | General
Next year, the Gebel el-Silsila Project celebrates a decade on site, although the preparations began already in 2011. It has been far too long since we posted any updates here, and we aim to make a change now, starting with some images of reminiscence. Stay tuned,...
Back to site – Season 13 has begun!
by Silsila | Nov 4, 2019 | General, Rock Art
Well, we’re in full swing, and two weeks into Season 13 the Gebel el-Silsila team has already made some amazing discoveries! We spent several days focusing on the site of Shatt el-Rigal located adjacent to the northern boundary of Gebel el-Silsila on the west...
Celebrating Tutankhamun: Silsila excavations
by Silsila | Oct 3, 2019 | General
Summary With the upcoming 100-year jubilee since Howard Carter’s opening of Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb in Valley of the Kings in 1922, the Silsila Team would like to celebrate the golden boy-king and his family, by exploring for the first time, a workers’ village and...
New Kingdom workshop and ram-headed sphinxes excavated in Gebel el-Silsila
by Silsila | Feb 27, 2019 | Discoveries
The Swedish-Egyptian mission at Gebel el-Silsila, led by Dr. Maria Nilsson and John Ward (Lund University), under the supervision of Dr. Mostafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and Mr. Abdel Moniem, General Director of Aswan and Nubia...
Swedish Ambassador to Egypt, H.E. Jan Thesleff, visits Gebel el-Silsila
by Silsila | Feb 3, 2019 | General
The Swedish-Egyptian mission at Gebel el-Silsila, led by Dr. Maria Nilsson and John Ward (Lund University), under the supervision of Dr. Mostafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and Mr. Abdel Moniem, General Director of Aswan and Nubia...
THANK YOU!
by Silsila | Dec 30, 2018 | General
Dear all, Prior to this, our Season 12, we put in process a massive Kickstarter campaign targeting work in the Temple of Sobek on the East Bank of Silsila. We were overwhelmed as we reached our goal and thereby secured the continuation of work at this particular site....
NEW DISCOVERY! Intact mass grave discovered in Gebel el-Silsila
by Silsila | Dec 13, 2018 | Discoveries
Today, the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquity went out with the press release of our latest discovery, announced by Dr. Mostafa Waziri, General Secretary. Here is the update! The Swedish-Egyptian mission at Gebel el-Silsila, Aswan Region, led by Dr. Maria Nilsson and John...
Congratulations Mohamed Mohsen
by Silsila | Aug 27, 2018 | General
Today we wish to make a more personal update, not so much from the field, but regarding one of our Egyptian colleagues, as we congratulate inspector Mohamed Mohsen on his wedding day! Mohamed has been with the Silsila team since our Season 2 (10 seasons ago!), and has...
What happened to Sobek? Digging the crocs at Silsila
by Silsila | Aug 6, 2018 | General
Dear all, due to increased prices in Egypt, we are now turning to you for your help in making one of our various projects possible: Help us solve the mystery of what happened to the crocodile-god Sobek and his temple! If everyone can contribute with as little as 5 €...
Intact child burials reveal new clues into family life at Gebel el-Silsila
by Silsila | Dec 19, 2017 | Discoveries, Temple of Sobek
With our 10th successful season completed, there are so many things we would love to share with you. For this, there will be a series of updates within the coming months, ranging from field reports to 3D imagery, etc. For today´s update, we would like to highlight the...
3D Inner sanctuary of the speos
by Silsila | Jun 29, 2017 | 3D Models
For those of you who enjoy the 3D models, you will be delighted to find yet another two examples uploaded, showing the northern and southern walls of the inner sanctuary of the speos at Gebel el-Silsila.view of the inner sanctuary and the main gods of the speos. Photo...
3D Ramesside Royal Stelae West Bank
by Silsila | Jun 28, 2017 | 3D Models
More amazing 3D models from Gebel el-Silsila, now showing the three royal stelae on the west bank.Three royal stelae on the west bank.The main model shows an overview of the three stelea, which are situated along the cenotaph road on the west bank of the Nile. They...
New models from the Speos
by Silsila | Jun 28, 2017 | 3D Models
The Silsila Team is happy to announce yet some more 3D models from within the Speos or Rock-cut temple of the west bank. The two models show the Northern and Southern side of the Eastern wall of the sancturary, divided by the doorway.Dr Martinez in the speos.The...
New 3D models, Shrine 4 Gebel el-Silsila West
by Silsila | Jun 22, 2017 | 3D Models
The Project is happy to announce that yet another two 3D-models have been uploaded to our Sketchfab page, this time focusing on Cenotaph/Shrine 4 on the West Bank. The first model shows the shrine as it is preserved today, while the second shows a digital...
Silsila 3D images on Sketchfab!
by Silsila | Jun 19, 2017 | 3D Models
Dear all, the Gebel el Silsila Team is delighted to share with you some exciting new 3D-images viewable on Sketchfab.com. The two published models mark the beginning of a new step in the project, aiming to share with the greater audience and our wonderful,...
12 new tombs discovered!
by Silsila | Jan 20, 2017 | Discoveries
The Swedish led archaeological mission at Gebel el Silsila in Upper Egypt continues to change the perception of history in the ancient quarried landscape of Silsila. In 2015 the Swedish led Gebel el Silsila project reported on the discovery of a series of tombs...
Happy Holidays!!
by Silsila | Dec 24, 2016 | General
From all of us, to all of you... a Merry, merry Christmas and a truly Happy New Year!
Searching for Knowledge by Uncovering the Past
by Silsila | Nov 25, 2016 | General
The following post was written by one of the project's wonderful supporters; his and his family's encouragement and genuine support inspired us to share his words here. The original 'opinion piece' was published by Samuel Strait on November 19, 2016 at...