The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Saturday the discovery of 18 Greco-Roman tombs at Marina El-Alamein, located about 100 kilometers west of Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast. The tombs, dating back nearly 2,000 years, were found with original stone blocking slabs still in place, and a granite sarcophagus measuring 2.5 meters was discovered with its lid intact, indicating the graves had remained sealed for millennia.
Notable Finds and Funerary Practices
Inside the tombs, archaeologists uncovered human remains alongside pottery, amphorae, and other funerary objects. Among the most significant findings were 24 gold objects placed inside the mouths of several individuals, a practice associated with beliefs about the afterlife. The site is believed to correspond to the ancient city of Leukaspis, a Mediterranean port that thrived between the Hellenistic and Byzantine periods.
Total Tombs at Marina El-Alamein
This latest discovery brings the total number of known tombs at Marina El-Alamein to 44 since the site was first identified in 1986 during construction work, according to the ministry.
Byzantine-Era Settlement in Dakhla Oasis
Separately, on Friday, the ministry reported the discovery of a Byzantine-era settlement at Ain al-Sabil in the Dakhla Oasis, dated to around the 4th century AD. The city, built of mudbrick, features a planned street grid, public squares, residential buildings, a basilica-style church, and defensive structures, indicating an organized urban community in the desert interior.
