Ancient Byzantine City Unearthed in Egypt's Western Desert

An extraordinary archaeological discovery has been made in Egypt's Western Desert, where a remarkably well-preserved Byzantine-era city has been unearthed in the Dakhla Oasis. This significant find promises invaluable insights into the region's past, featuring a wealth of residential and religious structures, as well as numerous artifacts.

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced that the 4th-century city offers a detailed glimpse into the daily lives, urban development, and economic activities of the period when Egypt was part of the Byzantine Empire. Excavations led by Hisham el-Leithy revealed distinct residential quarters with north-south corridors intersecting with east-west roads, forming public squares and spaces.

Dominating the settlement is a 4th-century basilica, flanked by two watchtowers for defense, according to Mahmoud Massoud, head of the archaeological mission. The Dakhla Oasis is already on UNESCO's tentative list for World Heritage status. The team also identified a fortified building with defensive walls and numerous houses featuring reception halls and vaulted ceilings. Notably, the house of Tissou, a deacon of the church dating to the latter half of the 14th century, may have served as a domestic church before the basilica's construction.

Among the artifacts recovered are bread ovens, kitchens, grinding tools, and bronze coins bearing portraits of Byzantine emperors, Latin inscriptions, and Christian symbols. A group of gold coins has been attributed to the reign of Roman Emperor Constantius II (337–361 AD). Further excavations at Marina el-Alamein, west of Alexandria, uncovered 18 ancient tombs, including 11 rock-cut and seven limestone surface tombs, bringing the total at the site to 48. These findings include pottery, amphorae, lamps, plates, altars, and limestone basins. A granite sarcophagus containing bones under study and the remains of a plaster sphinx statue were also found.