Qaret Rusas peninsula in Lake Qarun
The Roman remains at Qaret Rusas are located on a peninsula in Lake Qarun. The few remains on the surface that show that this is an antiquities site are few decorated limestone blocks and traces of mudbrick walls. It is clear that the site has been covered by the water of Lake Qarun at an unknown time for an unknown period.
Not only is the surface completely leveled, but pot sherds and lime stone flakes are covered with a thick layer of calcium carbonate, which usually is indicative of a stand of 30-40 cm deep water.
In order to understand the lay-out of the village, without having to excavate, the project did a magnetic survey. The map shows clear wall lines and streets in an orthogonal pattern, typical for the Greco-Roman period.
Day Trip to Fayoum| Fayoum Excursions | Qaret el Rosas north lake Qarun
el-Qarah el-Hamra
A site that is not mentioned in the literature was discovered by the team at a distance of about 5 km north-west of Qaret Rusas. The site for now has been named el-Qarah el-Hamra (after the name of the peninsula) and is located at the same level (-40 m ASL) as Qaret Rusas. This area requires a similar initial approach as Qaret Rusas. For the 2004 season an extensive geophysical survey will have to provide a record of the antiquities present. While determining the extent of el-Qarah el-Hamra the team noticed that at least half of the site has been disturbed by very recent and ongoing agricultural development.