One of the oldest archaeological sites in Egypt is the site of Shunat al-Zebib, also known simply as Shunat. It is located north of Abydos and dates back to the reign of King Sekhemwy from the Second Dynasty of ancient Egypt. He was the last king of the Second Dynasty around 2700 BCE.
The name given to the building reveals little about its purpose. Based on its function, this structure was likely built as a funerary temple for King Sekhemwy. It is a large rectangular building measuring approximately 137 meters in length and 77 meters in width. Constructed from mud bricks, it features exterior walls that resemble the facades of ancient Egyptian palaces, along with interior walls—most of which remain preserved to this day—measuring 123 meters in length and 56 meters in width. The walls have thicknesses ranging from three to eight meters and reach a height of about 12 meters. This building represents the first stage in the architectural development that eventually led to pyramid construction.
Since 1999, the American Research Center has been conducting excavations and restorations at this site. It is possible that King Djoser was inspired by this building when designing his pyramid complex in Saqqara. Due to its historical and archaeological significance, the site was opened to visitors in 2016.