Egyptian archaeologists have announced two significant discoveries: a well-preserved Byzantine-era residential city in the western desert and 18 ancient tombs near Alexandria. The finds are part of Egypt's efforts to boost its tourism sector, a crucial source of foreign currency for the nation.
Byzantine City in Dakhla Oasis
The settlement in the Dakhla Oasis, located in Egypt's New Valley province, offers insights into daily life, urban development, and economic activities from the fourth century, when the region was part of the Byzantine empire. Hisham el-Leithy, secretary general of the supreme council of antiquities, stated that the unearthed quarters feature north-south thoroughfares intersected by east-west streets, forming open squares and public spaces. At the settlement's center stands a basilica church dating to the mid-fourth century, with remains of two watchtowers found on its outskirts. The area also revealed a fortified structure with thick defensive walls and numerous houses containing reception halls and vaulted roofs.
Among the dwellings was the house of Tisous, identified as a church deacon from the latter half of the fourth century, which archaeologists believe may have served as a house church before the city's basilica was constructed. Evidence of daily life includes bread ovens, kitchens, and stone grinding tools used for food production. Additionally, archaeologists uncovered well-preserved bronze coins bearing portraits of Byzantine emperors, Latin inscriptions, and Christian symbols, alongside gold coins from the reign of Roman emperor Constantius II (337-361 AD).
Diaa Zahran, head of the Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish Antiquities department, reported the discovery of approximately 200 pottery fragments, known as ostraca, inscribed with details of commercial transactions, correspondence, and other aspects of daily life. The Dakhla Oasis is currently on UNESCO's Tentative List for World Heritage status.
Ancient Tombs at Marina el-Alamein
Separately, at the Marina el-Alamein archaeological site, located about 100 kilometers west of Alexandria, archaeologists discovered 18 ancient tombs. These include 11 rock-cut tombs, averaging 8 meters in depth, and seven surface limestone-built tombs, bringing the total found at the site to 48. Mission chief Eman Abdel-Khaliq reported the recovery of pottery vessels, amphorae, lamps, plates, altars, and limestone basins.
Of particular note is a 2.5-meter-long granite sarcophagus containing skeleton remains currently under study. Near the sarcophagus, the remains of a plaster sphinx statue were found. Abdel-Khaliq also noted the discovery of four gold pieces placed inside the mouths of some of the deceased, a practice known as "the golden tongue," associated with funerary beliefs of the era. The Marina el-Alamein site, believed to be the ancient Greco-Roman port city of Leukaspis, was built in the second century and flourished until the fourth century.