Egypt has announced two significant archaeological discoveries that provide fresh evidence of urban life, religious development and funerary traditions during the late Roman and Byzantine periods. Officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said excavations at the Dakhla Oasis in the Western Desert and the Marina el-Alamein archaeological site on the Mediterranean coast have revealed well-preserved structures, artifacts and burial complexes that deepen scholarly understanding of Egypt’s historical landscape while reinforcing the country’s efforts to promote cultural tourism.

According to the ministry, the discoveries were made by archaeological missions working at two historically important locations. The findings range from an extensively preserved Byzantine-era settlement with churches, defensive structures and residential quarters to an ancient cemetery containing decorated tombs, a granite sarcophagus and evidence of distinctive burial practices associated with the Greco-Roman world.

At the Dakhla Oasis, archaeologists uncovered a remarkably preserved residential settlement dating to the fourth century, when Egypt formed part of the Byzantine Empire. Officials said the excavation provides one of the clearest examples of urban planning in an oasis community during the period. The settlement was designed around north-south streets intersected by east-west roads, creating organized public squares and open spaces that reflected deliberate civic planning rather than unstructured expansion.

Hisham el-Leithy, secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the layout offers valuable insight into the evolution of settlements in the Western Desert during the Byzantine era. Archaeologists believe the discovery sheds light on patterns of administration, daily life and economic activity at a time when Christianity had become firmly established across much of the eastern Mediterranean.

The settlement is centered around a basilica church dating to the middle of the fourth century. According to Mahmoud Massoud, who heads the archaeological mission, the church occupies a commanding position overlooking the town’s principal streets, suggesting its importance within the local community. Excavations also uncovered the remains of two watchtowers positioned along the settlement’s outer limits, indicating that the town maintained defensive infrastructure to protect its inhabitants.

Researchers further identified a heavily fortified structure with substantial defensive walls alongside several residential buildings characterized by reception halls and vaulted roofing systems. Officials said these architectural features illustrate the diversity of construction methods employed in the oasis and indicate a relatively developed urban environment.

Among the most notable buildings was a residence identified as belonging to Tisous, described through archaeological evidence as a church deacon who lived during the second half of the fourth century. Archaeologists believe the building may have functioned as a house church before construction of the larger basilica, offering rare evidence of the evolution of Christian worship spaces within the settlement.

The excavation also revealed installations associated with everyday domestic life, including bread ovens, kitchens and stone grinding tools used for food preparation. Officials said these findings contribute to a broader understanding of household economies and local food production in Byzantine Egypt.

Numismatic discoveries recovered from the settlement include bronze coins bearing portraits of Byzantine emperors alongside Latin inscriptions and Christian symbols. Archaeologists also found gold coins dating to the reign of Roman Emperor Constantius II, who ruled between AD 337 and 361. The ministry said the coins help establish a secure chronological framework for occupation of the site while illustrating the circulation of imperial currency within remote desert communities.

Additional evidence of administrative and commercial activity emerged through the discovery of approximately 200 pottery fragments known as ostraca. Diaa Zahran, head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities Department, said the inscribed pottery pieces contain records relating to commercial transactions, correspondence and aspects of daily administration. Such documents were commonly used as inexpensive writing material throughout the ancient Mediterranean and frequently preserve details absent from monumental inscriptions.

The Dakhla Oasis, located in Egypt’s New Valley Governorate, already holds archaeological significance and is included on UNESCO’s Tentative List, representing a preliminary stage in the process toward potential inscription on the World Heritage List. The newly uncovered settlement adds to the archaeological importance of the oasis by expanding the documented evidence of Byzantine occupation in Egypt’s Western Desert.

In a separate excavation at Marina el-Alamein, archaeologists announced the discovery of 18 additional ancient tombs within a cemetery associated with the Greco-Roman port city believed to be ancient Leukaspis. According to the ministry, the newly identified burials include 11 rock-cut tombs averaging approximately eight meters in depth and seven surface-built limestone tombs. Their discovery increases the total number of documented tombs at the site to 48.

Excavations within the cemetery produced a range of funerary objects and domestic artifacts, including pottery vessels, amphorae, lamps, plates, altars and limestone basins. Officials said these materials will assist researchers in reconstructing burial practices and patterns of daily life linked to the ancient settlement.

Eman Abdel-Khaliq, who leads the archaeological mission at Marina el-Alamein, said researchers uncovered a granite sarcophagus measuring approximately 2.5 meters in length. Human skeletal remains recovered from inside the sarcophagus are currently undergoing scientific examination to determine additional information regarding the individual interred there. Nearby, archaeologists also discovered the remains of a plaster sphinx statue, adding another ceremonial element to the burial complex.

Among the most distinctive discoveries were four gold pieces placed inside the mouths of some of the deceased. Archaeologists identified the practice as the “golden tongue,” a funerary custom associated with beliefs that the dead would require the ability to speak in the afterlife. Such burial traditions have been documented at several Greco-Roman sites across Egypt and reflect the blending of local and Mediterranean religious traditions during the period.

Marina el-Alamein lies near the modern city of El Alamein on Egypt’s northern Mediterranean coast. First identified archaeologically in 1986, the site is widely believed to represent the ancient port city of Leukaspis, established during the second century and flourishing until approximately the fourth century before its decline. Ongoing excavations continue to reveal residential districts, cemeteries and public structures that contribute to understanding trade and urban development along Egypt’s Mediterranean coastline.

The discoveries come as Egypt continues to emphasize archaeological heritage as a major component of its tourism strategy. According to official figures cited by the government, the country welcomed a record 19 million international visitors in 2025, representing a 21% increase compared with the previous year. Tourism authorities also reported that 6.1 million visitors arrived during the first four months of 2026, up from 5.7 million during the corresponding period in 2025.

Tourism remains one of Egypt’s principal sources of foreign currency alongside revenues generated by the Suez Canal. Government officials have increasingly highlighted archaeological discoveries, museum projects and heritage conservation initiatives as part of broader efforts to strengthen the sector and diversify visitor destinations beyond the country’s traditional historical sites.