Egypt uncovers ancient coastal tombs and Byzantine desert settlement

CAIRO: Egyptian archaeologists have discovered a cluster of nearly 2,000-year-old tombs on the Mediterranean coast and the remains of a planned Byzantine-era settlement in the country’s western desert, according to statements issued by the tourism and antiquities ministry.

The ministry said on Saturday that the coastal find was made at Marina El-Alamein, around 100 kilometres west of Alexandria. Recent excavations there brought to light 18 Greco-Roman tombs, adding to earlier discoveries at the site.

Archaeologists found several burial chambers with their original stone sealing slabs still intact. A granite sarcophagus measuring about 2.5 metres was also uncovered with its lid preserved in place, indicating that the graves may have remained sealed for almost two millennia.

Human remains were recovered from inside the tombs along with pottery, amphorae and other funerary items. The ministry said one of the most significant discoveries was 24 gold objects placed in the mouths of several of the deceased, a burial custom linked to beliefs concerning the afterlife.

The site is believed to correspond to the ancient city of Leukaspis, a Mediterranean port that was active between the Hellenistic and Byzantine eras. According to the ministry, the latest excavation raises the total number of known tombs at Marina El-Alamein to 44 since the location was first identified in 1986 during construction work.

Byzantine-era settlement in Dakhla Oasis

In a separate announcement issued on Friday, the ministry said archaeologists had also uncovered the remains of a Byzantine-era settlement at Ain al-Sabil in the Dakhla Oasis in Egypt’s western desert. The settlement has been dated to around the 4th century AD.

Built of mudbrick, the site includes a planned street layout, public squares, residential structures, a basilica-style church and defensive features. The ministry said the remains point to an organised urban community in the desert interior.