Egypt has announced two major archaeological discoveries: a well-preserved Byzantine-era residential city in the Dakhla Oasis and 18 ancient tombs at the Marina el-Alamein site near Alexandria. The findings, revealed by the Tourism and Antiquities Ministry on Saturday, are expected to bolster Egypt's tourism sector, a key source of foreign currency.
Byzantine City in Dakhla Oasis
The first discovery, located in the Dakhla Oasis in Egypt's western desert, sheds light on daily life, urban development, and economic activities during the 4th 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, said Hisham el-Leithy, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
A basilica church dating back to the mid-4th century stands at the settlement's head, overlooking its main streets, along with remains of two watchtowers to safeguard the outskirts, said Mahmoud Massoud, who chairs the archaeological mission. The oasis is on UNESCO's Tentative List, a step away from being added to the World Heritage List.
A heavily fortified structure with thick defensive walls and many houses consisting of reception halls and vaulted roofs were found. Among them was the house of Tisous, identified as a church deacon and dating to the second half of the 4th century, which archaeologists believe served as a house church before the basilica was built. Archaeologists also uncovered bread ovens, kitchens, and stone grinding tools used to produce food.
Coins and Inscriptions
Well-preserved bronze coins bearing portraits of Byzantine emperors, Latin inscriptions, and Christian symbols, alongside a group of gold coins dating to the reign of Roman emperor Constantius II (337-361), were found. Diaa Zahran, head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities department, said about 200 pottery fragments, known as ostraka, were discovered with inscriptions detailing commercial transactions, correspondence, and other daily life details.
Tombs at Marina el-Alamein
Separately, archaeologists found 18 ancient tombs at the Marina el-Alamein archaeological site, about 100 kilometers west of Alexandria. The findings include 11 rock-cut tombs with an average depth of 8 meters and seven surface limestone-built tombs, bringing the total tombs found at the site to 48. Pottery vessels, amphorae, lamps, plates, altars, and limestone basins were also found.
Mission chief Eman Abdel-Khaliq said a 2.5-meter-long granite sarcophagus was discovered with skeleton remains under study. Nearby, the remains of a plaster sphinx statue were found. Four gold pieces were placed inside the mouths of some deceased, a practice known as "the golden tongue" associated with funerary beliefs of that era. Marina el-Alamein, unearthed in 1986, is believed to be the ancient Greco-Roman port city of Leukaspis, built in the 2nd century and thriving until the 4th century.
Tourism Recovery
Egypt's tourism has started to recover after years of political turmoil and the coronavirus pandemic. A record 19 million tourists visited Egypt in 2025, 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.
