El Kab

Ancient Egyptian site on the east bank of the Nile, 80 km south of Luxor, known in antiquity as Nekheb -- the cult centre of vulture goddess Nekhbet. Occupation spans from Epipaleolithic campsites (c. 6400 BC) through Predynastic, Dynastic, and Ptolemaic periods. The rock-cut tombs of Ahmose son of Ebana and Paheri preserve invaluable military inscriptions from the wars against the Hyksos c. 1550 BCE. The main Nekhbet temple was reconstructed under Thutmose III and enlarged by Nectanebo II, while a massive mud-brick enclosure wall encloses 25 hectares of settlement remains. Belgian archaeologists have led excavations since 1937.