The Sphinx Foundation for Archaeological Research

09/15/2026

COMING SOON: Sphinx and Trowel Newsletter, Volume 2, 2025-2026

We are excited to announce that our latest issue of the Sphinx and Trowel Newsletter will be out soon. It will contain updates on the fieldwork taking place at Kom el-Fakhry and Gebelein, conservation efforts in Theban Tomb 16, a special Egyptological profile, and much, much more. If you are interested in contributing to our next issue, please message [email protected].

09/04/2026

Your donation makes tomorrow’s discovery possible. The Sphinx Foundation for Archaeological Research (SFAR) provides charitable funding and services for archaeological missions working in Egypt and for research projects engaged in scientific analysis, conservation, and the study of Egyptian material culture and history in the United States, Egypt, and other countries associated with such endeavors. The foundation partners with universities, museums, and other nonprofit organizations to fulfill its mission to further research and understanding of the Egyptian past.

If you would like to get involved or donate, please contact [email protected] or visit us at www.sphinxarchaeology.org.

09/02/2026

Pictured by The Graphic, 1 November 1930, is Professor Mohammad Aboudi, one of the first tour guides in Luxor. Speaking eight languages, Aboudi authored a guide book on Egypt https://bit.ly/4gTYaON

09/01/2026

Help us reach 1000 followers by sharing our page with family, friends, and colleagues. Thank you!

09/01/2026

Thank you!

08/27/2026

Our new ‘Friends of SFAR’ donor pins just arrived today. They look absolutely amazing! If you’re interested supporting SFAR by making a donation that impacts real archaeological work in Egypt, message us at [email protected].

08/26/2026

Don’t forget to register for Dr. El-Behaedi’s upcoming lecture on Saturday at 1:00 PM CST. We look forward to seeing you at the event.

Register via our website events page:

Dr. Raghda (Didi) El-Behaedi will update SFAR on the results of the most recent 2025–2026 field season at Kom el-Fakhry (lecture image, courtesy of MKAP and Jonathan Rashad).

08/24/2026

Have you registered for the upcoming lecture by Dr. El-Behaedi on her recent work at Kom el-Fakhry (ancient Memphis)? She's kindly reserved updates specifically for SFAR that she has not shared elsewhere as a grant recipient. We invite you to join us on August 29th.

Register via the link below:
www.sphinxarchaeology.org/events

08/17/2026

Happy Anniversary! Thank you for your support over the last few years. We never could have anticipated the level of interest and enthusiasm that would follow the announcement of this initiative to provide further support for research and fieldwork in Egypt.

It is our great honor to support the incredible work of scholars through SFAR’s grants, partnerships, and sponsoring conferences and workshops. SFAR’s work is just beginning, and we look forward to the future.

Thank you!

SFAR Team

08/17/2026

Join us on August 29th for Beneath the Floodplain: Results from the 2025–2026 Excavations at Kom el-Fakhry (Memphis), by Dr. Didi El-Behaedi, University of Missouri.

The lecture will stream via the Zoom platform on Saturday, August 29th, at 1:00 PM CST. We look forward to seeing you at the event (registration links below).

LECTURE DETAILS
Ancient Egypt is often defined by its most spectacular monuments—towering pyramids, monumental temples, and richly furnished tombs. Yet these iconic remains represent only part of the story. Behind these sacred and funerary landscapes stood Memphis, Egypt's first capital and one of the most significant cities of the ancient world. For more than three millennia, Memphis served as the political, economic, and administrative heart of the Egyptian state, shaping the development of kingship and governance along the Nile. Despite its importance, the city itself has remained remarkably elusive. Unlike the pyramids and cemeteries that continue to dominate both the archaeological record and popular imagination, much of ancient Memphis lies hidden beneath the Nile floodplain and the modern village of Mit Rahina. Layers of alluvial deposition, high groundwater, and ongoing urban development have long hindered efforts to investigate the city's inhabited spaces, leaving archaeologists with a far richer understanding of Memphis' dead than its living.

Drawing on the results of the most recent 2025–2026 field season of the Memphis Kom el-Fakhry Archaeological Project (MKAP), this lecture highlights how recent excavations are beginning to transform our understanding of Egypt's first capital. The work has uncovered evidence for both Old Kingdom and Middle Kingdom occupation, illuminating different chapters in the city's long history and offering new insights into the development of settlement at Memphis across time. The lecture will also discuss ongoing efforts to safeguard this threatened archaeological landscape through site preservation initiatives aimed at mitigating the impacts of urban encroachment, improving site security, and ensuring the long-term protection of Memphis' buried heritage.

SPEAKER DETAILS
Dr. Raghda (Didi) El-Behaedi, Assistant Professor of Mediterranean Archaeology
Department of Classics, Archaeology, and Religion
University of Missouri, Columbia

Dr. Didi El-Behaedi is an Egyptian archaeologist and National Geographic Explorer specializing in ancient landscapes and urbanism. She directs the Memphis Kom el-Fakhry Archaeological Project (MKAP), which investigates the earliest phases of Memphis (Men-nefer)—Egypt’s first and most influential capital. Her research integrates archaeological excavation with cutting-edge technologies such as remote sensing, GIS, and 3D modeling to reconstruct patterns of settlement and environmental transformation in ancient Egypt. Deeply invested in cultural heritage preservation and education, Dr. El-Behaedi also spearheads outreach initiatives across Egypt, including programs developed in partnership with National Geographic Learning.

Please register via https://www.sphinxarchaeology.org/event