From Mediterranean coast to desert oasis: Egypt's double archaeological triumph

Egyptian archaeologists have announced two significant discoveries, a series of Greco-Roman tombs on the Mediterranean coast and the remains of a Byzantine-era city deep in the western desert.

At Marina El-Alamein, some 100 kilometres west of Alexandria, excavations have revealed 18 Greco-Roman tombs dating back nearly 2,000 years, several with their stone sealing slabs still in place. 

A granite sarcophagus measuring approximately 2.5 metres was found with its lid intact, suggesting the burial had remained undisturbed for two millennia. 

Inside, archaeologists found human remains, pottery, amphorae and other funerary objects. Among the most striking finds: 24 gold objects placed in the mouths of several individuals, a burial practice linked to ancient beliefs about the afterlife.

The site is believed to be the ancient port city of Leukaspis, which flourished from the Hellenistic through the Byzantine periods. This latest discovery brings the total number of known tombs at Marina El-Alamein to 44 since the site was first identified in 1986.

In the Dakhla Oasis in Egypt's western desert, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a Byzantine village at Ain al-Sabil, dating to around the 4th century AD. 

Built in mud brick, the site features an organised street network, public squares, residential buildings, a basilica-style church and defensive structures. Some 200 ostraca written in Coptic and Greek were found alongside bronze and gold coins, including some from the reign of Roman Emperor Constantius II (337–361 AD).

Egypt regularly showcases major archaeological finds as part of its strategy to boost tourism revenues, a vital source of foreign currency alongside Suez Canal income and remittances from Egyptians abroad.