Byzantine fortified city discovered in the Dakhla oasis, Egypt

In the heart of the Western Desert of Egypt, at the site of Ain El-Sabil within the Dakhla oasis, a team of archaeologists discovered the remnants of an ancient fortified city dating back to the 4th century AD. This city, belonging to the Byzantine period, surprises with its advanced urban planning and the numerous objects that reveal details of the daily life of its inhabitants.

The city was organized according to a grid layout that created open squares and public spaces arranged around a central basilica. This design reflects a clear and well-thought-out community organization for the time. Additionally, traces of two watchtowers were identified on the outskirts, indicating that the site had defensive measures.

The houses, built with mud bricks, had spacious reception areas and vaulted ceilings. Among the findings are ceramics, jars for oils and perfumes, oil lamps, and stone tools for grinding grains. These objects paint a picture of a community dedicated to both daily activities and trade.

One of the most interesting discoveries is the identification of specific residences. One belonged to Tisous, a deacon of the church who lived in the second half of the 4th century. Another, dated to the early decades of that century, is attributed to Tabibos and is believed to have functioned as a church before the construction of the main basilica.

Artifacts that Speak of the Past

Among the recovered pieces, a collection of nearly 200 inscribed ostraca stands out. These ceramic fragments were used as writing material and contain texts in Coptic and Greek. They served to record commercial transactions and correspondence, offering a direct window into the administrative and social life of the time.

Gold coins corresponding to the reign of Emperor Constantius II, who ruled between 337 and 361 AD, were also found. These findings help to refine the chronology of the site and confirm its connection to the Byzantine world.

Experts from the Supreme Council of Antiquities, such as Hisham El Leithy and Mahmoud Massoud, highlighted the importance of urban planning and the architectural remains. For his part, Diaa Zahran from the Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish Antiquities sector emphasized the value of the ostraca as one of the most relevant discoveries of the excavation.

This site provides valuable data on how life developed in the oasis regions during the Byzantine period in Egypt. The presence of a central basilica and evidence of early Christian practice in the house of Tabibos show the religious transition of the area.

A Window into the Byzantine World in Africa

Researchers continue to analyze the materials to deepen the understanding of this community. Everyday objects, such as grinding tools and lamps, suggest an economy based on agriculture and local exchange. The quality of the constructions indicates that it was not a marginal settlement, but a center of some relevance.

The finding in Dakhla adds to other studies on Byzantine Egypt, allowing for a better reconstruction of how these desert areas were integrated into the empire. The fortification and planning reveal strategies for control and territorial organization in an arid but habitable region thanks to the oases.

With these remains, archaeologists can explore aspects such as the role of the church in daily life, trade networks, and domestic customs. The inscriptions on ostraca, in particular, promise to reveal more about the social and economic interactions of the inhabitants.

This discovery reinforces the idea that the Egyptian Western Desert held important secrets of historically underexplored periods in the area, enriching the general knowledge of the Late Antiquity.