Detail of satellite scene from Quickbird, manipulated by Todd Brenningmeyer. Technical details about source and process appear on a separate page.

The church of the White Monastery, its floor gleaming in the sunlight, appears at the right (below photograph). Areas of recent excavation can be seen (see detail below). The graveyard fills the center left, and beyond it begin some of the orchards and other areas under cultivation. .

During the last two decades, excavations have been carried out in this area by the local Inspectorate.

A brief publication appeared in Mahmoud ali Mohammed 1991. The plan published there did not show all of the features mentioned in the text.

In 2001 Grossmann discussed some of the structures (Grossmann 2001).

In recent years, Grossmann has prepared detailed plans for publication with the aid of Darlene Brooks Hedstrom and in cooperation with the local Inspectorate. The results are now (summer 2004) in press at Dumbarton Oaks.

Until a detailed plan becomes available, I am using this detail of the image above to mention briefly some of the findings (in the right hand column). Not all the excavated areas are included here.

A is the church.

B, at the southwest of the church. is said to contain latrines.

C, immediately west of the church, contains a small room identified by Grossmann as a refectory later in date than the church.

D is a building thought to date to Shenute's building activities, and probably to have played an important part in the life of his community. Since it has been fully published and discussed by Mahmoud ali Mohammed and Peter Grossman, I feel able to include more information about it on another page: building D.

E is an area involving storage, distribution and apparently industrial use of water, which has not yet been published so I will not show details here.