The Excavations of the Italian Archaeological Mission at Heliopolis (1903–1906)

Coordinator: Federica Ugliano

Team: Francesco Fuoco, Tommaso Montonati, Francesca Palmieri, Claudio Tarable (Museo Egizio), Enrico Croce, Francesca Bignoli (Università degli Studi di Milano), Margherita Capuani (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano), Andrea Miletto (3x1010)

Partner institutions: Archivio di Stato di Torino; Università degli Studi di Milano; Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano

Funders: The Shelby White and Leon Levy Program for Archaeological Publications

The project intends to present the unpublished results of the campaigns conducted between 1903 and 1906 by the Italian Archaeological Mission led by Ernesto Schiaparelli at the site of Heliopolis, now located in the north-eastern districts of Cairo. The area, formerly known as Iunu and a primary center of worship since the 4th millennium BCE, represents one of the most significant religious and political contexts of ancient Egypt. Despite its historical importance, the results of the first extensive Italian investigations were never published. The project aims at the systematic reconstruction of archaeological evidence, the historical contextualization of materials, and the creation of digital tools (WebGIS platform) to ensure accessibility, preservation, and enhancement of the documentary heritage. In addition to the more strictly scientific output, the Heliopolis project also plans to enhance the excavation work of the Museo Egizio at Heliopolis through a temporary exhibition.

The research involves the systematic study of archival documentation preserved at the Museo Egizio and other institutions, including excavation diaries, historical photographs, drawings, and plans. The data will be catalogued, digitized, and integrated into a structured database. At the same time, a comparative topographical analysis will be conducted between historical maps and the current urban layout of the area, now included within the districts of Matariya, Ain Shams, and Arab el-Hisn. The information will be georeferenced and integrated into a WebGIS platform, enabling the spatial reconstruction of the investigated areas and documented structures. The interdisciplinary approach combines Egyptology, landscape archaeology, and digital humanities tools, with particular attention to data standardization and open access.

The project includes the complete digitization and cataloguing of the archival documentation, accompanied by the creation of a WebGIS platform to ensure its valorization and accessibility. At the same time, a historical-topographical reconstruction of the excavated areas will be carried out and a monograph dedicated to the history of the M.A.I. excavations at Heliopolis and to the archaeological recontextualization of the artifacts will be prepared. The results of the project will finally be presented through a temporary exhibition.

Link

Presentation “Una storia in frammenti: gli scavi italiani a Eliopoli”, held on 24 April 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=npOi_MjNzJ0

Funding institution’s website page:

Heliopolis. The Excavations of the Italian Archaeological Mission (1903–1906) | The Shelby White and Leon Levy

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The Excavations of the Italian Archaeological Mission at Heliopolis (1903–1906)

The Excavations of the Italian Archaeological Mission at Heliopolis (1903–1906)

Visit

Events

Collection and research

Touring exhibitions

Who we are

Fondazione Trasparente

HR and tenders

Press