Full Breakdown
Egypt Announces Major Byzantine Archaeological Finds in Dakhla Oasis and Marina el-Alamein
7/5/2026, 6:29:02 AM
New Byzantine City and Tomb Complex Unveiled
Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced two major finds on 4 July 2026: an intact fourth-century Byzantine residential city at the Ain el-Sabil site in the Dakhla Oasis, and 18 ancient tombs at Marina el-Alamein, 100 km west of Alexandria. The oasis settlement features a street grid, a central basilica, two watchtowers, fortified walls and vaulted houses. The Marina el-Alamein complex includes 11 rock-cut and seven limestone tombs, a 2.5-metre granite sarcophagus and four gold pieces placed in the mouths of some bodies, a practice called the “golden tongue.”
Historical Context
In the fourth century Egypt was a Byzantine province where desert oases hosted organized Christian communities. The Dakhla city shows imperial administration, trade and worship in the western desert; Marina el-Alamein reflects the Greco-Roman port of Leukaspis that thrived until that era.
Key Researchers, Artifacts and Data
Lead investigators include Hisham el-Leithy (Supreme Council of Antiquities), mission chair Mahmoud Massoud, antiquities head Diaa Zahran and mission chief Eman Abdel-Khaliq. Excavations recovered about 200 Coptic and Greek ostraca documenting commerce, bronze coins with Byzantine portraits, a gold hoard of Constantius II, and domestic items such as bread ovens and stone grinders. The tomb complex brings the total at Marina el-Alamein to 48 tombs.
Tourism Impact and UNESCO Prospects
The Dakhla Oasis site sits on UNESCO’s Tentative List, a step toward World Heritage status. Tourism data show 19 million visitors in 2025—a 21 % rise—and 6.1 million arrivals in the first four months of 2026, up from 5.7 million in the same period of 2025. Officials expect further foreign-currency gains.
Official Statements & Responses
Hisham el-Leithy said the excavation provides valuable new information on Dakhla’s Byzantine life. Mahmoud Massoud noted the city’s completeness. Diaa Zahran called the ostraca a rare documentary record. Sherif Fathy linked the finds to cultural-tourism. Eman Abdel-Khaliq described the sarcophagus and golden-tongue practice as elite funerary evidence.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
One source dates the house of Tisous to the second half of the fourth century; another mistakenly cites the second half of the 14th century, indicating a typographical error. The full extent of buried structures remains unknown, and ostraca analysis is ongoing.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The excavation provides valuable new information about life in the Dakhla Oasis during the Byzantine period,” — Hisham el-Leithy, secretary-general, Supreme Council of Antiquities
- “Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy said the discovery enriches Egypt's archaeological record, highlights the cultural diversity of the country's oases throughout history, and will help promote cultural tourism in the region while showcasing its rich archaeological heritage.” — Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities
- “Four gold pieces were placed inside the mouths of some of the deceased, known as “the golden tongue”, which had been a practice associated with funerary beliefs of that era, Abdel-Khaliq said.” — Eman Abdel-Khaliq, mission chief, Marina el-Alamein
- “ CAIRO (AP) — A well-preserved Byzantine-era residential city in the western desert is one of two majorarchaeologicalfinds announced byEgypton Saturday ” guardonline Diaa Zahran, head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities department, said the team found a collection of about 200 pottery fragments known as octraca, with inscriptions detailing commercial transactions, correspondence, and other details of daily life.” — Diaa Zahran, head, Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities
What’s Next
Researchers will continue excavating the Dakhla grid, cataloguing the ostraca and conducting metallurgical studies on the coin hoards. Marina el-Alamein’s sarcophagus and tomb assemblages will undergo further bio-archaeological analysis. Egypt plans to submit the Dakhla Oasis site for UNESCO World Heritage inscription while promoting the finds in upcoming tourism campaigns.
