About the Mendes Expedition
The Mendes Expedition is dedicated to uncovering and preserving the history of one of Egypt’s most important ancient cities. Known in antiquity as Per-Banebdjedet, Mendes was a major center of political, religious, and economic life in the Nile Delta for more than four millennia. From its role in the earliest days of the Egyptian state to its prominence as a Saite-period capital, the site preserves a continuous record of Egyptian urban life.
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Founded by Professor Donald B. Redford in the late 1980s, the expedition has excavated temples, cemeteries, and settlement areas, producing a wealth of new knowledge about Delta archaeology. Today, under the direction of Dr. Susan Redford and Dr. Matthew J. Adams, the project continues this legacy with a dual mission: advancing scholarly research and providing training for students and volunteers through hands-on excavation.
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The Mendes Expedition combines traditional field methods with modern technologies such as GIS and photogrammetry, ensuring that the site’s remains are carefully recorded for both present study and future generations. At the same time, the expedition is committed to building international collaboration and fostering cultural exchange, working closely with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and with the local community of the Delta.
Meet The Team
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Matthew J. Adams is an archaeologist of the ancient Near East and Egypt, with a focus on the Bronze and Iron Age Levant and the archaeology of state formation. He received his PhD from The Pennsylvania State University , and has directed or co-directed multiple excavations in Israel and Egypt, including at Megiddo, Legio, and Mendes. Matthew is currently Director of The Center for the Mediterranean World, which provides institutional support for the Mendes Expedition. His research combines traditional excavation with cutting-edge digital methods such as GIS, photogrammetry, and 3D modeling. As co-director of the Mendes Expedition, Matthew works to continue the legacy of Donald B. Redford while expanding the project’s reach as both a research initiative and a field school for the next generation of archaeologists.
Matthew J. Adams
Co-Director
Susan Redford
Co-Director
Susan Redford is an Egyptologist specializing in art, iconography, and the archaeology of ancient Egypt. She received her PhD from The Pennsylvania State University and has conducted fieldwork in Egypt for more than four decades. Susan has published extensively on Egyptian art, history, and archaeology, and is the author of The Harem Conspiracy: The Murder of Ramesses III. She has been a central figure in the Mendes Expedition since its founding, serving as co-director alongside her late husband, Donald B. Redford, and now continues that leadership role together with Matthew J. Adams. Susan oversees field operations, artifact analysis, and team mentorship, and brings to the project a deep commitment to both scholarly excellence and student training.
Expedition History
In Memoriam: Donald B. Redford (1934–2024)
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Donald Bruce Redford was one of the leading Egyptologists of his generation, recognized worldwide for his contributions to the study of ancient Egyptian history, religion, and archaeology.
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Born: 1934, Ontario, Canada
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Education: PhD, University of Toronto (1965)
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Academic Appointments:
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University of Toronto (1965–1990)
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Pennsylvania State University, Professor of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies (1990–2009)
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Research Interests: Egyptian chronology, New Kingdom history, the Amarna period, Egypt and the Levant, and the archaeology of the Nile Delta
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Major Excavations: Directed projects at East Karnak and Mendes
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Selected Publications:
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Akhenaten: The Heretic King (1984)
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Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times (1992)
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Excavations at Mendes, Vol. 1: The Royal Necropolis (2004)
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City of the Ram-Man: The Story of Ancient Mendes (2010)
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Excavations at Mendes, Vol. 2: The Dromos and Temple Area (2020)
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Professor Redford combined historical scholarship with groundbreaking fieldwork, bringing the story of Egypt’s Delta cities into sharper focus. His founding of the Mendes Expedition stands as one of his greatest legacies. Generations of students and colleagues remember him not only as a brilliant scholar but also as a generous teacher and mentor.
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The Mendes Expedition was founded in the late 1980s by Professor Donald B. Redford of Penn State University, whose vision and dedication established Mendes as one of the most thoroughly studied sites of the Egyptian Delta. Under his leadership, the expedition carried out extensive excavations in the temple precincts, cemeteries, and settlement areas, uncovering a city whose history stretched from the earliest days of Egyptian state formation to the twilight of pharaonic power.
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Professor Redford’s work at Mendes set new standards for fieldwork in the Delta, combining large-scale excavation with meticulous recording and analysis. His decades of research culminated in numerous publications, most recently Excavations at Mendes, Volume 2: The Dromos and Temple Area (2020), which remains a cornerstone of scholarship on the site.
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In 2024, Professor Redford passed away, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of scholarship, mentorship, and vision. The Mendes Expedition continues in his honor, building on the foundation he established. Today, under the direction of Dr. Susan Redford and Dr. Matthew J. Adams, the project advances his mission: to reveal the history of Mendes across its four millennia of occupation, while training the next generation of archaeologists.
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The continuing work of the Mendes Expedition not only carries forward Donald Redford’s contributions to Egyptology, but also serves as a living tribute to his belief in the importance of rigorous field research, international collaboration, and the enduring value of Egypt’s Delta cities in the history of the ancient world.
Funding and Support
Since its founding, the Mendes Expedition has relied on the generosity of institutions, granting agencies, and individuals who recognize the importance of preserving and studying Egypt’s Delta heritage. Over the years, support has been provided by a range of organizations, including:
Pennsylvania State University
The University of Toronto
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
The American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE)
These partnerships have enabled the long-term fieldwork, conservation, and publication that continue to make Mendes a touchstone for the archaeology of the Nile Delta.
Today, the Mendes Expedition is supported by The Center for the Mediterranean World along with the generosity of private donors. Their commitment ensures that the expedition not only carries forward the legacy of Professor Donald B. Redford, but also provides hands-on training for the next generation of archaeologists.
We are deeply grateful for this support, and welcome new partnerships with institutions and individuals who share our vision for advancing archaeological knowledge and preserving Egypt’s past.