Tell Tebilla

 ruins, archaeological site

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Also called Tell Balala, the archaeological site of ancient Egyptian Ranefer. Located about 12 km north of ancient Mendes, it once lay in proximity to a coastal lagoon. The town flourished from Dynasty 19 to Dynasty 30, but was subsequently abandoned after the silting up of the local waterways. Much of the population relocated to Phernouphis (Barnufa) farther east during the Ptolemaic Period.

The site has been severely impacted by modern activity, including agriculture, habitation, and the construction of a water filtration plant. As a result, the mound has shrunk, and only parts of it are accessible for study. Excavations revealed a large temple enclosure, mostly beneath the water filtration plant. Elsewhere, archaeologists uncovered several elite burials.