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Egypt uncovers lost Byzantine-era city in the western desert
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- Egypt 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 Dakhla Oasis settlement, dating to the fourth century, reveals detailed urban planning, including a basilica church, watchtowers, fortified structures, and artifacts such as bread ovens, bronze coins, and pottery fragments with inscriptions.
- At Marina el-Alamein, archaeologists uncovered 11 rock-cut tombs and seven limestone-built tombs, along with pottery, a granite sarcophagus, a plaster sphinx statue, and gold pieces placed inside some deceased's mouths, reflecting funerary practices of the Greco-Roman era.
- These discoveries are part of Egypt's efforts to boost its vital tourism sector, which has shown signs of recovery with a record 19 million tourists in 2025 and continued growth in early 2026.
- The Dakhla Oasis site is on UNESCO’s Tentative List, moving closer to World Heritage status, highlighting its historical and cultural significance.
