A groundbreaking archaeological discovery beneath Egypt iconic Karnak Temple in Luxor is rewriting the origins of one of the world’s most sacred ancient sites. Geoarchaeologists have revealed that the Karnak Temple Complex was originally built atop a lost river island sculpted by Nile channels more than 4,500 years ago centuries earlier than previously believed.
The new study, published in Antiquity by Cambridge University Press and led by researchers from the University of Southampton, suggests that the temple foundations date back to around 2300 BCE, during Egypt Old Kingdom. Until now, historians believed that Karnak was established much later, in the Middle Kingdom.
Researchers say this revelation not only shifts Karnak’s construction timeline but also deepens its spiritual symbolism. The temple’s location appears to have been chosen for its resemblance to the “primeval mound” a central image in Egyptian creation myths where land emerges from the waters of chaos, symbolizing the birth of the world.
Where geology meets mythology
Situated about 500 meters east of the Nile, the Karnak complex was once the spiritual heart of ancient Thebes. Beneath its monumental pylons and obelisks, scientists extracted 61 sediment cores, tracing ancient river flows and identifying a stable island-like landform that emerged around 2520 BCE.
According to Dr. Ben Pennington, a geoarchaeologist with the Southampton team, “It’s the only known raised land surrounded by water in the region. To ancient eyes, this may have looked like the moment of creation made real.”
The finding reveals how Egypt’s priests and builders may have deliberately linked geography to theology. When annual floods submerged nearby lowlands, the temple’s raised island would have stood above the waters appearing to rise from the flood like the mythical mound of creation.
Rediscovering a forgotten Nile branch
The study also uncovered evidence of a major eastern branch of the Nile once flanking the temple. Sediment analysis and ceramic fragments show that this river channel was far more significant than earlier believed. Over time, both eastern and western channels silted up, but researchers found signs that ancient builders intentionally filled parts of the riverbed with desert sand to stabilize land for construction a remarkable example of early environmental engineering.
“This shows how the ancient Egyptians shaped the river itself,” said Dr. Dominic Barker, co-author of the study. “They manipulated the landscape to suit both practical and sacred needs.”
A sacred landscape revealed
By aligning myth, geography, and engineering, Karnak’s early builders turned a natural formation into a divine symbol. The temple’s island foundation would have visually mirrored the story of creation the god Amun-Ra emerging from watery chaos. This alignment of religion and environment helps explain why Thebes became such a powerful religious capital in later centuries.
“This was a landscape that mirrored their imagination,” Pennington said. “It wasn’t just architecture it was theology carved into the Earth.”
The discovery transforms Karnak from a monumental temple into a living reflection of Egypt’s creation story proving that the roots of its sacred power may lie not just in stone and worship, but in the land beneath it.