Egyptian archaeologists have uncovered a well-preserved residential city dating back to the Byzantine era in the Western Desert, marking one of two significant recent archaeological discoveries announced over the weekend. The findings were made in the Dakhla Oasis, located in Egypt’s New Valley province, and near the Marina el-Alamein archaeological site close to Alexandria.

The discovery in the Dakhla Oasis offers new insight into daily life, urban planning, and economic activity during the fourth century, when Egypt was part of the Byzantine Empire. According to Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, the site features a structured layout of north-south streets intersected by east-west thoroughfares, creating open squares and public spaces. Among the unearthed structures is a heavily fortified building with thick defensive walls, alongside numerous houses containing reception halls and vaulted roofs.

Notably, archaeologists identified the house of Tisous, believed to have belonged to a church deacon active in the latter half of the fourth century. This location is thought to have functioned as a house church before the city’s basilica was constructed. Additional findings at the site include bread ovens, kitchens, and stone grinding tools, which suggest food production activities. Well-preserved bronze coins featuring the portraits of Byzantine emperors were also discovered, shedding light on the economic aspects of the settlement.

The Dakhla Oasis is part of Egypt’s Western Desert and is currently listed on UNESCO’s tentative list of World Heritage Sites, a precursor step toward achieving full designation. The Egyptian government has emphasized these archaeological discoveries as key assets to bolster the country’s tourism sector, which alongside the strategic Suez Canal, is a major source of foreign currency amid ongoing economic challenges.

The second major find mentioned by Egyptian authorities took place at the Marina el-Alamein site near Alexandria, but details of the discovery there were not provided in the initial announcement. Together, these discoveries underscore Egypt’s ongoing efforts to highlight its archaeological heritage and revive tourism revenues.