Remarkable Byzantine City Uncovered in Egypt

Archaeologists in Egypt’s western desert have unearthed a remarkably well-preserved fourth-century Byzantine residential city.

Located at the Dakhla Oasis in the New Valley province, this ancient settlement features an organised grid of intersecting streets, public squares, and residential homes built with vaulted roofs and reception halls.

To protect the outskirts, inhabitants constructed a heavily fortified building with thick defensive walls alongside two watchtowers. Notable architectural finds include a mid-fourth-century basilica church and an earlier house church belonging to a deacon named Tisous.

Excavations have revealed vivid insights into ancient daily routines and economic activities. Teams discovered kitchens, bread ovens, grinding tools, and bronze and gold coins minted during Roman Emperor Constantius II’s reign.

Additionally, researchers found about 200 inscribed pottery fragments, known as ostraca. Diaa Zahran, head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities department, noted that these fragments “have inscriptions detailing commercial transactions, correspondence and other details of daily life”.

The Egyptian government hopes this major discovery, alongside new tomb finds near Alexandria, will continue boosting its recovering tourism sector, which brought a record 19 million visitors last year. The Dakhla Oasis is currently on UNESCO’s Tentative List.

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