Today Hierakonpolis appears as two separate archaeological zones. One is the low grass covered mound located in the midst of the cultivation. This is the remains of the town and temple mound of the Dynastic site of Nekhen. The other component is a collection of inter-related sites stretching for over 4km across the low desert. The desert sites represent the multi-component Predynastic occupation of Hierakonpolis. The incredible diversity and sheer volume of Predynastic remains, which include cemeteries, domestic settlements, industrial zones and ceremonial centers, alone makes Hierakonpolis a singularly unique phenomenon in Egypt. Recent geological testing has shown that, until extensive land reclamation activities in the Classical period separated them, the two archaeological components were part of one contiguous expanding and contracting settlement over time. A site of many localities, it still has much to tell us.

The present multinational Expedition to Hierakonpolis was begun in 1967 under the direction of the late Dr. Walter Fairservis, who was joined by the late Dr. Michael Hoffman in 1969. Some 16 seasons of excavation and survey under their direction have added immensely to an understanding of this vast site. Since 1996, the Expedition has been under the direction of Dr. Renee Friedman (British Museum) and Barbara Adams (University College London). A substantial number of startling discoveries has been made by the Expedition, yet only a small fraction of this large site has been thoroughly investigated. The excavation of each locality serves to emphasize, each in its own way, the importance of Hierakonpolis for an understanding of the early history of Egypt.

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