Ancient Byzantine City Rediscovered in Egypt's Western Desert

WHO:

CNN - Hisham el-Leithy, secretary general of the supreme council of antiquities.

CNN - Mahmoud Massoud, chair of the archaeological mission.

CNN - Diaa Zahran, head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities department.

CNN - Eman Abdel-Khaliq, mission chief.

WHAT:

CNN - Archaeologists uncovered a well-preserved Byzantine-era residential city in the western desert.

CNN - The discoveries include details of daily life, urban development, and economic activities in the Dakhla Oasis from the fourth century.

CNN - A basilica church dating back to the mid-fourth century was found, along with two watchtowers.

CNN - Archaeologists found 18 ancient tombs at the Marina el-Alamein archaeological site, bringing the total to 48.

CNN - The findings included 11 rock-cut tombs with an average depth of 8 meters and seven surface limestone-built tombs.

CNN - A 2.5-meter-long granite sarcophagus was discovered, containing skeletal remains currently being studied.

CNN - Four gold pieces were found placed inside the mouths of some deceased individuals, a practice known as "the golden tongue."

WHERE:

CNN - The discoveries were made at the Dakhla Oasis and the Marina el-Alamein archaeological site, near Alexandria, Egypt.

CNN - The Dakhla Oasis is located in Egypt’s western province of New Valley in the western desert.

CNN - Marina el-Alamein is approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of the Mediterranean city of Alexandria.

WHEN:

CNN - The basilica church dates back to the mid-fourth century.

CNN - The gold coins found date to the reign of Roman emperor Constantius II, who ruled between 337 and 361.

CNN - The site of Marina el-Alamein was unearthed in 1986.

WHY:

CNN - The Egyptian government hopes these archaeological finds will boost the country’s vital tourism sector, which is a major source of foreign currency.

HOW:

CNN - Archaeologists uncovered residential and religious structures, including bread ovens, kitchens, and stone grinding tools used for food production.

CNN - A collection of about 200 pottery fragments, known as ostraca, was found, containing inscriptions detailing commercial transactions and daily life.

(UPDATED July 4, 2026 17:20 UTC)

Archaeologists have made significant discoveries in Egypt, unearthing a well-preserved Byzantine-era residential city in the Dakhla Oasis, which includes a basilica church from the mid-fourth century and two watchtowers, shedding light on daily life and urban development from that era. Additionally, at the Marina el-Alamein archaeological site, 18 ancient tombs have been uncovered, bringing the total to 48, with notable findings such as a 2.5-meter-long granite sarcophagus containing skeletal remains and four gold pieces placed in the mouths of some deceased individuals, a practice known as "the golden tongue." The Egyptian government hopes these archaeological finds will enhance the country's tourism sector, a vital source of foreign currency, as they continue to study the artifacts and their historical significance.