Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered a fourth-century Byzantine city in the western desert, including a basilica-style church, residential quarters, and 18 ancient tombs. The findings. Made in the Dakhla oasis and near Alexandria at Marina el-Alamein, include coins, pottery fragments, and tools, offering a rare glimpse into the urban and religious life of the Byzantine era, according to the tourism and antiquities ministry.

Archaeological Significance and Urban Structure

The unearthed site in the Dakhla oasis includes north-south thoroughfares intersected by east-west streets, forming open squares and public spaces. A basilica dating back to the mid-fourth century stands at the settlement’s center, overlooking its main streets, according to Mahmoud Massoud, who chairs the archaeological mission. The city also features two watchtowers for defense and a fortified structure with thick walls and vaulted roofs.

Among the residential buildings was the house of Tisous, a church deacon, which dates to the second half of the 14th century, but Archaeologists believe it served as a house church before the construction of the basilica. Other structures included bread ovens. Kitchens, and grinding tools used for food production, according to the tourism and antiquities ministry.

Artifacts and Religious Symbolism

Archaeologists also found bronze coins bearing portraits of Byzantine emperors, Latin inscriptions, and Christian symbols, while a group of gold coins from the reign of Roman emperor Constantius II, who ruled between 337 and 361, were also uncovered. Diaa Zahran. Head of the Islamic. Coptic and Jewish Antiquities department, said 200 pottery fragments were found, used as writing material and containing inscriptions about commercial transactions and daily life.

At the Marina el-Alamein site. 18 ancient tombs were discovered, bringing the total number of tombs found there to 48, and the findings include 11 rock-cut tombs averaging 8 meters in depth and seven surface limestone-built tombs. In one of the tombs, archaeologists found a 2.5-meter-long granite sarcophagus containing skeleton remains and a plaster sphinx statue. Mission chief Eman Abdel-Khaliq noted that four gold pieces were placed inside the mouths of some deceased—a practice known as “the golden tongue” associated with funerary beliefs of the era.

Historical and Cultural Context

The Dakhla oasis, where the city was found, is located in Egypt’s western province of New Valley and is on Unesco’s tentative list for potential inclusion in the world heritage list. The area was part of the Byzantine empire during the fourth century and reflects the region’s urban development and religious practices. The site also includes a heavily fortified structure and many houses with reception halls, offering insights into the social and economic activities of the time.

According to Hisham el-Leithy, secretary general of the supreme council of antiquities, the discovery reveals details about daily life, economic activities, and urban development in Egypt during the Byzantine period. The findings at both locations contribute to a broader understanding of the region’s historical and cultural significance, bridging the ancient and early medieval periods in Egyptian history.