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Egypt unveils Byzantine city and ancient tombs in tourism drive
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Culture & Society

Egypt unveils Byzantine city and ancient tombs in tourism drive

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Egypt announced two major archaeological discoveries: a Byzantine-era city in the Dakhla Oasis and ancient tombs at Marina el-Alamein.
  • These finds are part of Egypt's effort to boost its tourism sector, a key source of foreign currency.
  • The Dakhla Oasis discovery offers insights into daily life, urban development, and economic activities from the fourth century.

Egypt has unveiled two significant archaeological discoveries, hoping to revitalize its crucial tourism industry. The finds include a well-preserved Byzantine-era residential city in the Dakhla Oasis and 18 ancient tombs at the Marina el-Alamein archaeological site near Alexandria.

The unearthed quarters included north-south thoroughfares intersected by east-west streets, forming open squares and public spaces.

— Hisham el-LeithyHisham el-Leithy, secretary general of the supreme council of antiquities, described the urban layout of the Byzantine city discovered in the Dakhla Oasis.

At the Dakhla Oasis, located in the western desert, archaeologists uncovered details of fourth-century life when Egypt was part of the Byzantine empire. The site reveals urban planning with intersecting thoroughfares, public spaces, and a basilica church. Remains of watchtowers and a fortified structure with thick defensive walls were also found, alongside houses featuring reception halls and vaulted roofs.

Excavations at the Dakhla site also yielded evidence of daily activities, such as bread ovens, kitchens, and stone grinding tools. Artifacts discovered include bronze coins bearing portraits of Byzantine emperors and gold coins from the reign of Roman emperor Constantius II. Additionally, about 200 pottery fragments, known as octraca, were found with inscriptions detailing commercial transactions and correspondence.

A basilica church, dating back to the mid-fourth century, stands at the settlement’s head, overlooking its main streets, along with remains of two watchtowers to safeguard the outskirts.

— Mahmoud MassoudMahmoud Massoud, who chairs the archaeological mission, detailed the structures found at the Dakhla Oasis settlement.

Meanwhile, at Marina el-Alamein, archaeologists discovered 11 rock-cut tombs and seven surface limestone-built tombs, bringing the total found at the site to 48. The tombs contained pottery vessels, amphorae, lamps, plates, altars, and limestone basins. The Egyptian government views these discoveries as vital for attracting tourists and generating foreign currency, alongside the Suez Canal's revenue.

The fragments, known as octraca, have inscriptions detailing commercial transactions, correspondence and other details of daily life.

— Diaa ZahranDiaa Zahran, head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities department, explained the significance of the pottery fragments found at the Dakhla Oasis.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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