Early research was conducted at Tell el-Maskhuta in 1883 by Edouard Naville. In 1977, Johns Hopkins University conducted a surface survey of the Tell el-Maskhuta after the Egyptian Antiquities authority opened the Wadi Tumilat to archaeological research. The University of Toronto began a research excavation at the site during 1978 and continued to work at the site through 1985. The Toronto University team were able to date “the assumed 13th century BC” storehouses discovered by Naville to the 3rd and 2nd century BC. The major settlement dates from the late 7th century BC. The excavations also uncovered several mud brick tombs belonging to the Hyksos dating to the Second Intermediate period.