CAIRO – Archaeologists have unearthed a remarkably well-preserved Byzantine-era city in Egypt’s western desert, offering an unprecedented glimpse into daily life during the empire’s fading grip on the region. The discovery, announced Saturday by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, comes from the Dakhla Oasis in New Valley Governorate and dates to the fourth century A.D., a period when Egypt was part of the Byzantine Empire.
The excavation reveals a meticulously planned urban center, complete with north-south thoroughfares intersecting east-west streets that form open squares and public spaces. At the settlement’s heart stands a mid-fourth-century basilica, its position overlooking the main streets signaling the church’s central role in community life. Remains of two watchtowers, likely used to guard the outskirts, underscore the city’s defensive priorities. “This is not just a collection of ruins,” said Hisham el-Leithy, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. “It is a fully articulated town that shows how people organized their homes, their worship, and their economy.”
Among the most striking finds are residential quarters featuring reception halls and vaulted roofs, including the “House of Tisous,” a deacon’s dwelling that archaeologists believe served as an early house church before the basilica was built. Bread ovens, kitchens, and stone grinding tools point to a thriving domestic life, while bronze coins bearing portraits of Byzantine emperors and Latin inscriptions confirm the city’s integration into imperial trade networks. A cache of gold coins, minted under Roman Emperor Constantius II, who ruled from 337 to 361, was also recovered, adding a precise chronological anchor to the site.
The Dakhla Oasis, already on UNESCO’s tentative list for World Heritage status, is emerging as a critical lens into Egypt’s Byzantine era. Mahmoud Massoud, who chairs the archaeological mission, highlighted a heavily fortified structure with thick defensive walls, suggesting the city was built to withstand regional instability. “These walls tell a story of a community that needed to protect itself while maintaining bustling urban life,” Massoud said. The city’s layout, with its basilica, watchtowers, and public squares, mirrors other Byzantine settlements but stands out for its exceptional preservation in the arid desert environment.
Separately, the ministry also announced the discovery of 18 ancient tombs at Marina el-Alamein, near Alexandria, including rock-cut and limestone burial chambers, pottery, and a granite sarcophagus. Together, the finds underscore Egypt’s relentless archaeological output. For historians, the Dakhla city offers a rare opportunity to study the transition from Roman to Byzantine rule in a rural setting. As el-Leithy noted, “Every coin, every oven, every wall is a page from a book we are just beginning to read.” The site is expected to draw international scholarly attention as Egypt pushes to boost tourism ahead of the 2027 season.