Al-Fustat archaeological site, Egypt. Workers uncovering bones at the archaeological site. Al- Fustat was the first capital of Egypt under Arab rule. Archaeologists have excavated Al-Fustat and found human remains dating from the time of the Fatimid dynasty, a caliphate of Shi'ite Muslims which was founded in 909 and ruled over a North African empire until 1171. During their rule, the Fatimids relocated the capital of Egypt from Al-Fustat to the more northern city of Cairo. The human remains from this site are well-preserved, many having mummified naturally.