Surveyed and tested by Amsterdam University survey 1984-5: tests comprised two at 5 x 2 m; one 5 x 6m in E and NW part of tell. Five phases from early dyn I back to late Predynastic. Found burial of early Dyn I. with plentiful contents. Tell split in about 1980 into two by new fields. The E part damaged by sebakhin, but W part better preserved. Sherds from Archaic to 3IP noted. Excavations by Amsterdam University since 1988, directed by Willem Van Haarlem have revealed Late Predynastic, Archaic and MK remains, including a tomb from the time of Narmer. Remains of an MK temple with deposits of ex-votos, including human and animal figures in faience and ivory, jewellery, maces, game-pieces and tiles. Deep excavation under the MK level went down to Predynastic material. Cemetery of 1IP to MK found to east of temple. In-situ house remains of OK found below disturbed levels of pitting in 2000, dated by a seal with the Horus-name of Userkaf.

More references: J Boessneck and Angela von den Driesch, in ibid, 117ff. Van Haarlem, in Dossiers d'Archéologie, no. 213 (1996), 12-15. Id., note in EA 12, 27; and article in EA 18 (2001), 33-35. Leclant and Clerc, Or. 65 (1996), 253-4; Or. 66 (1997), 238-9; Or. 67 (1998), 332-3; Or. 68 (1999), 334; Or. 69 (2000), 226-7. Van Haarlem, W.M., “Temple Deposits at Tell Ibrahim Awad II - An Update”, in GM 154 (1996), 31-4. Belova, G.A. and Sherkova, T.A. (eds) Ancient Egyptian Temple at Tell Ibrahim Awad. Moscow 2002. With contributions by W. van Haarlem and D. Eigner. Text in Russian and English.