The Egyptian archaeological mission working at the ancient city of Marina El-Alamein on the north-western coast has made a new discovery, unearthing 18 ancient tombs along with a number of surface burials, sarcophagi, and artefacts during excavation work at the site.
The mission also uncovered the remains of extensions of the ancient city and its architectural components, bringing the total number of tombs discovered in the area since the site was first found in 1986 to 44. The finds further cement the site's importance as one of the most prominent ancient coastal cities on the Mediterranean. Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, said in a statement that the discovery "represents an important scientific and archaeological addition that contributes to understanding the cultural identity of the ancient inhabitants of Marina El-Alamein and to reassessing its historical role as a civilisational and cultural centre and a link between Egypt and the Mediterranean world."
Fathy noted that the ministry "attaches great importance to scientific excavation work at the site in preparation for opening it to visitors, adding a new cultural tourism product alongside the beach tourism for which the North Coast region is renowned."
For his part, Dr Hisham Al-Laithi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that the site development project includes the construction of a visitors' centre, electric vehicle and pedestrian pathways, a museum storage facility, an administrative headquarters, and an open-air theatre. Development works are expected to be completed during the first half of next year, at which point Marina El-Alamein will become an integrated tourist and archaeological destination.
Mohamed Abd Al-Badie, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, noted that the discovered tombs include 11 rock-cut tombs (hypogea) with an average depth of 8 metres, in addition to 7 surface tombs built from limestone. Some of the tombs are in an exceptionally well-preserved condition, with burial shafts found sealed by stone slabs that have not been opened since antiquity.
The excavations also revealed numerous surface burials in the vicinity of the tombs, reflecting the social diversity of the city's inhabitants, as well as a water well that was later reused for burial purposes — a clear example of the continuity of ancient Egyptian influences in funerary architecture during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. Excavation work also yielded a distinguished collection of artefacts, including complete and near-complete pottery vessels, amphorae, oil lamps, plates, and limestone altars and basins, alongside a number of architectural elements associated with the tombs.
Dr Hisham Hussein, head of the Central Administration for Lower Egypt Antiquities, noted that among the most prominent finds is a limestone offering altar with a distinctive architectural facade modelled on the "false door" well known in ancient Egyptian funerary belief, in addition to an unfinished marble statue believed to represent the goddess Aphrodite, a limestone funerary stele depicting a seated man holding a bird, and a number of glass tear bottles.
In the same context, Dr Iman Abd Al-Khaleq, head of the mission and director of the site, explained that a granite sarcophagus measuring 2.5 metres in length was uncovered with its original lid still in place, containing skeletal remains that are currently under study. Beside it were found the remains of a plaster sphinx statue, confirming the continuity of Egyptian religious and artistic influences within the city during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
She added that among the most notable finds was the discovery of 24 gold pieces placed inside the mouths of some of the deceased, representing what is known as the golden tongue — an element associated with funerary beliefs of that era — including one gold piece in the shape of the Eye of Horus, considered one of the most important protective symbols in ancient Egyptian belief.