Archaeologists working in Egypt’s Western Desert have uncovered the remains of a well-planned early medieval city in the Dakhla Oasis, offering new insights into daily life in a Byzantine-era community. The discovery includes a church, homes, defensive structures, hundreds of written documents, and gold and bronze coins dating back to the fourth century.
The discovery was made by an Egyptian archaeological mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities during excavations at the Ain Sabeel archaeological site in the Dakhla Oasis, located near the geographical centre of the country. The team uncovered an extensive residential settlement built primarily from mudbrick, revealing what officials describe as an integrated urban community from the Byzantine period.
Photo courtesy Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
According to Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the settlement followed a carefully organised street plan. Main roads ran north to south, intersected by smaller east-west streets, while two open squares formed the centre of the city. A basilica church overlooked one of the principal streets, suggesting that religion played a central role in the community’s layout.
The excavations have also revealed a range of buildings that served the needs of the settlement. These include the basilica church, which dates to the middle of the fourth century AD, the remains of two watchtowers on the city’s outskirts, a heavily fortified enclosure with thick walls, and numerous houses containing large reception halls, kitchens, bread ovens, and grain-grinding equipment.
Photo courtesy Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Among the most significant structures is the residence of Tessos, identified as a deacon of the church and dating to the second half of the fourth century. Archaeologists also uncovered the house of Tabibus, which dates to the early fourth century. Before the construction of the basilica, this building appears to have functioned as a house church, offering evidence for the development of Christianity within the settlement.
The mission recovered a wide variety of artefacts that shed light on the everyday lives of the city’s inhabitants. These include pottery vessels used for domestic purposes, bottles designed to store oils and perfumes, lamps, and stone implements used for grinding grain.
Photo courtesy Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Perhaps the most remarkable finds are around 200 inscribed ostraca—texts written on broken pieces of pottery—in both Coptic and Greek. These documents record sales, purchases, correspondence, and other aspects of everyday administration, providing a rare glimpse into the social and economic life of the settlement.
The excavations also uncovered a substantial collection of well-preserved coins. Bronze coins bearing the portraits of Byzantine emperors, Latin inscriptions, and Christian symbols were found alongside gold coins dating to the reign of Emperor Constantine II, who ruled between 337 and 361 AD.
Photo courtesy Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Egyptian officials say the discovery significantly enhances understanding of life in the Dakhla Oasis during the Byzantine period, illustrating the region’s importance as a thriving settlement rather than an isolated desert outpost. The combination of urban planning, religious architecture, written records, and everyday artefacts provides archaeologists with an unusually complete picture of an early medieval community in Egypt.
The excavations at Ain Sabeel are continuing, and researchers expect further discoveries to reveal more about the development of the oasis and its role within Byzantine Egypt.
Archaeologists working in Egypt’s Western Desert have uncovered the remains of a well-planned early medieval city in the Dakhla Oasis, offering new insights into daily life in a Byzantine-era community. The discovery includes a church, homes, defensive structures, hundreds of written documents, and gold and bronze coins dating back to the fourth century.
The discovery was made by an Egyptian archaeological mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities during excavations at the Ain Sabeel archaeological site in the Dakhla Oasis, located near the geographical centre of the country. The team uncovered an extensive residential settlement built primarily from mudbrick, revealing what officials describe as an integrated urban community from the Byzantine period.
According to Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the settlement followed a carefully organised street plan. Main roads ran north to south, intersected by smaller east-west streets, while two open squares formed the centre of the city. A basilica church overlooked one of the principal streets, suggesting that religion played a central role in the community’s layout.
The excavations have also revealed a range of buildings that served the needs of the settlement. These include the basilica church, which dates to the middle of the fourth century AD, the remains of two watchtowers on the city’s outskirts, a heavily fortified enclosure with thick walls, and numerous houses containing large reception halls, kitchens, bread ovens, and grain-grinding equipment.
Among the most significant structures is the residence of Tessos, identified as a deacon of the church and dating to the second half of the fourth century. Archaeologists also uncovered the house of Tabibus, which dates to the early fourth century. Before the construction of the basilica, this building appears to have functioned as a house church, offering evidence for the development of Christianity within the settlement.
The mission recovered a wide variety of artefacts that shed light on the everyday lives of the city’s inhabitants. These include pottery vessels used for domestic purposes, bottles designed to store oils and perfumes, lamps, and stone implements used for grinding grain.
Perhaps the most remarkable finds are around 200 inscribed ostraca—texts written on broken pieces of pottery—in both Coptic and Greek. These documents record sales, purchases, correspondence, and other aspects of everyday administration, providing a rare glimpse into the social and economic life of the settlement.
The excavations also uncovered a substantial collection of well-preserved coins. Bronze coins bearing the portraits of Byzantine emperors, Latin inscriptions, and Christian symbols were found alongside gold coins dating to the reign of Emperor Constantine II, who ruled between 337 and 361 AD.
Egyptian officials say the discovery significantly enhances understanding of life in the Dakhla Oasis during the Byzantine period, illustrating the region’s importance as a thriving settlement rather than an isolated desert outpost. The combination of urban planning, religious architecture, written records, and everyday artefacts provides archaeologists with an unusually complete picture of an early medieval community in Egypt.
The excavations at Ain Sabeel are continuing, and researchers expect further discoveries to reveal more about the development of the oasis and its role within Byzantine Egypt.
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