Egypt announced on Saturday two major archaeological discoveries: a well-preserved Byzantine-era residential city in the western desert and 18 ancient tombs near the Mediterranean coast. These findings are part of the Egyptian government's efforts to boost the country's vital tourism sector, which relies heavily on antiquities sightseeing.
Byzantine-Era City Unearthed in Dakhla Oasis
The first discovery, located in the Dakhla Oasis in Egypt's western province of New Valley, reveals details of daily life, urban development, and economic activities in the fourth century when Egypt was part of the Byzantine empire. The unearthed quarters include north-south thoroughfares intersected by east-west streets, forming open squares and public spaces, according to Hisham el-Leithy, secretary general of the supreme council of antiquities.
A basilica church dating back to the mid-fourth century stands at the settlement's head, overlooking its main streets. Remains of two watchtowers to safeguard the outskirts were also found, said Mahmoud Massoud, who chairs the archaeological mission. The oasis is on UNESCO's Tentative List, a step away from being added to the agency's World Heritage List.
Fortified Structures and Daily Life Artifacts
A heavily fortified structure with thick defensive walls, and many houses consisting of reception halls and vaulted roofs were found in the area, Massoud said. Among them was the house of Tisous, identified as a church deacon dating to the second half of the fourth century, which archaeologists believe served as a house church before the construction of the city's basilica.
Archaeologists also uncovered bread ovens, kitchens, and stone grinding tools used to produce food. Well-preserved bronze coins bearing portraits of Byzantine emperors, Latin inscriptions, and Christian symbols were found, alongside a group of gold coins dating to the reign of Roman emperor Constantius II, who ruled between 337 and 361, the ministry statement said.
Pottery Fragments Reveal Daily Life
Diaa Zahran, head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities department, said they found a collection of about 200 pottery fragments used as writing material. These fragments, known as ostraca, have inscriptions detailing commercial transactions, correspondence, and other details of daily life, Zahran said.
Ancient Tombs Discovered at Marina el-Alamein
Separately, archaeologists have found 18 ancient tombs at the Marina el-Alamein archaeological site, around 100 kilometers west of Alexandria. The findings included 11 rock-cut tombs with an average depth of 8 meters, and seven surface limestone-built tombs, the ministry said. This brings the total tombs found at the site to 48.
In the site, archaeologists found pottery vessels, amphorae, lamps, plates, altars, and limestone basins. Mission chief Eman Abdel-Khaliq said they found a 2.5-meter-long granite sarcophagus with skeleton remains that are currently being studied. Close to the sarcophagus, they found the remains of a plaster sphinx statue.
Golden Tongue Funerary Practice
Abdel-Khaliq said they also found 4 gold pieces placed inside the mouths of some of the deceased, known as the 'golden tongue,' a practice associated with funerary beliefs of that era. Marina el-Alamein is an archaeological site close to Alamein on Egypt's Northern Coast. Unearthed in 1986, archaeologists believe the site was the ancient Greco-Roman port city of Leukaspis on the Mediterranean, built in the second century and thriving until the fourth century.
Tourism Recovery in Egypt
Egypt's tourism has started to recover after years of political turmoil and violence following the 2011 uprising, as well as the coronavirus pandemic. A record 19 million tourists visited Egypt last year, a 21% increase from 2024, according to official figures. The first four months of 2026 saw 6.1 million tourists, compared with 5.7 million during the same period in 2025.
