Lahun

Lahun, also written el-Lahun, is an archaeological site in the Fayum region of Egypt notable for a Middle Kingdom pyramid complex and a sizeable surrounding workers’ town. It lies near the modern village of el-Lahun in the western Fayum, and dates to the reign of Senusret II of the 12th Dynasty (roughly the late 19th century BCE). The site centers on a pyramid complex built for Senusret II, accompanied by a mortuary temple and a causeway linking to a valley temple. The pyramid itself is constructed primarily of mudbrick with remnants of limestone casing, and today remains largely ruined but provides clear evidence of monumental royal cult architecture from the period.

Surrounding the pyramid complex is a substantial settlement that served the needs of the workforce: granaries, housing, workshops, and other facilities that supported the construction and provisioning of the royal tomb. This urban aspect illustrates the scale and organization of state labor during the Middle Kingdom and offers insight into the economy that underpinned pyramid-building projects.

Excavations at Lahun began in the late 19th century under Flinders Petrie, who mapped the site, recovered inscriptions, and collected administrative materials such as seals and ostraca. The discoveries at Lahun contributed significantly to understanding Middle Kingdom administration, provisioning, and the relationship between royal mortuary complexes and their associated labor communities.

Today Lahun is an important protected archaeological site for studying Egypt’s Middle Kingdom, urban planning, and the organization of labor in monumental projects.