ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to re-appraise the evidence for planned communities in ancient Egypt by
reviewing published and unpublished data along with my own fieldwork at the site of Deir el-Ballas. I
intend to show that in comparing this information one can see an element of standardization in the
design of individual structures as well as in entire settlements; and that from this we can infer a unified
concept of architectural design and urban planning.
