KHARGAOASIS

Possibly Ancient Egyptian Wehat resyt, meaning southern oasis. An oasis in the Western Desert west of Luxor. Prehistoric remains have been discovered there, but evidence from the Pharaonic Period is lacking. The surviving archaeological sites date from the Graeco-Roman Period and Byzantine Period, apart from the templeat Hibis, which was begun during the Persian Period. The area was excavated by an expedition from the Metropolitan Museum of Art from 1907–1909, 1927–1928, and 1930–1931. These were followed by French expeditions, notably beginning in 1976 at the site of Dush, a Roman settlement abandoned during the 5th century AD; since 1993 at Ayn Manawir, which dates from the Late Period to the Graeco-Roman Period; and since 1998 at El-Deir.

See also Bahariyaoasis; Dakhlaoasis; Farfaraoasis; Siwaoasis.