A French archaeological mission working in the area of Tanis, in the Sharqiya governorate, revealed they have discovered hundreds of colored blocks with bas –relief carvings. The blocks were used to build the walls of a sacred lake in the temple of the goddess Maat. Minister of Antiquities Zahi Hawass said the blocks date to the era of King Osorkon II of Dynasty XXII (945-712 BC), may have been re-used in a later era, possibly the Ptolemaic era. Hawass said after the end of the mission's work, and the discovery of the rest of the blocks—which could amount to more than two thousand pieces—they will be studied and used to reconstruct the original temple. The ministry is currently implementing a huge project to develop the area of Tanis. The first phase will cost fifty million pounds and will include setting the water level under the surface and groundwater and agricultural drainage water in the residential area nearby and the establishment of a visitor center and other tourism services. Archaeologist Ibrahim Suleiman, Director General of Archeology, said Tanis, which lies 70 kilometers northeast of Zagazig, is one of the oldest cities of ancient Egypt. There are a number of temples in the area, including the great temple of the god Amu. Tanis was the capital of two families—the twenty-first and twenty-second—whose graves were uncovered in 1939 by French Egyptologist Pierre Montir. The graves contained treasure known as the treasures of Tanis, which were displayed in the Egyptian Museum. The excavations in this site started in 1860 with French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette, and continued with the English scientist Flinders Petrie in 1884. Petrie discovered the Temple of Amun under the city wall.
