Archaeologists have discovered an ancient Byzantine city in the western desert of Egypt

Egyptian archaeologists have discovered a well-preserved Byzantine-era city in the Dakhla oasis, which is on the UNESCO tentative list. This was reported on July 4 by the British newspaper The Guardian.

"Egyptian archaeologists have discovered a well-preserved Byzantine-era city in the western desert. The quarters of the fourth century included residential and religious buildings, including a basilica—style church in the oasis of Dakhla," the publication says.

It is noted that coins, fragments of ceramics and tools were also found. In the center of the settlement there is a basilica of the middle of the IV century and the remains of two watchtowers that guarded the outskirts. In addition, fortified structures and many houses with reception halls and vaulted roofs were discovered, including the church deacon's house, which served as a house church before the construction of the basilica.

According to the publication, this discovery reveals details of daily life, urban development, and economic activity during the period when Egypt was part of the Byzantine Empire.

The text also says that among the finds are ovens for baking bread, kitchen utensils, bronze and gold coins with portraits of the Byzantine emperors, as well as about 200 fragments of ceramics with inscriptions about trade and everyday life.

In addition, 18 ancient tombs have been discovered in Marina El Alamein, 100 km from Alexandria, bringing the total number to 48. It is noted that a granite sarcophagus 2.5 m long and the remains of a plaster sphinx were discovered. In some burials, gold coins have been found in their mouths — the so-called "golden tongues" associated with funerary beliefs. Scientists believe that this place is the ancient port city of Leucaspis, built in the 2nd century and flourished until the 4th century.

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Arkeonews magazine reported on April 19 that archaeologists of the Spanish-Egyptian expedition led by the University of Barcelona and the Institute of Ancient Near East discovered a fragment of papyrus with the text of Homer's Iliad inside a mummy in the necropolis of the Roman period on the territory of the ancient city of Oxyrhynchus in the province of Minha. It was noted that scientists explored the necropolis, where mummies with amulets in the form of golden tongues and other funerary objects were found.