The residential buildings date back to the time of Sheikh Al Arab Hammam.
Dubai: A joint Egyptian–French archaeological mission has uncovered the remains of an 18th-century mudbrick residential city and a Coptic necropolis from the Byzantine period, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced. The discovery was made at the Sheikh Al Arab Hammam site in Qena Governorate, Upper Egypt.
Located in Al Arki village, the find provides fresh insight into settlement patterns and daily life in a region with limited historical records. The residential buildings date back to the era of Sheikh Al Arab Hammam, a prominent 18th-century regional figure.
“Sherif Fathy, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, said the project seeks to preserve the site and prepare it for inclusion on the country’s tourist map, highlighting its location between the major archaeological centres of Dendera and Abydos.”
Hisham El Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, described the findings as particularly significant due to the scarcity of documentation about the area.
Excavations revealed six houses with associated service buildings and part of an industrial zone, Diaa Zahran, head of the Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish Antiquities Sector, said. Some houses featured mudbrick domes, while others had roofs made from palm trunks. Traces of white lime plaster in several rooms highlight the use of varied architectural techniques.
Artefacts recovered include bronze coins, pottery fragments, children’s toys, jewellery, and textile remains, indicating a diverse and active community.
Beneath the residential layers, archaeologists uncovered part of a Coptic necropolis dating to the Byzantine era. Ahmed El Shoky, head of the mission, said geophysical surveys helped locate the burial area after a limestone coffin lid was found reused as paving near one of the city’s entrances.
The necropolis contains simple ground burials as well as tombs enclosed within mudbrick structures. Finds include linen wrappings and Coptic-style tunics decorated with geometric, floral, and animal motifs, along with crosses and inscriptions. A copper stamp used for decorating baked goods was also recovered.
Experts noted that the discovery provides valuable insights into funerary practices, industrial activity, and population distribution in Upper Egypt from the Byzantine through Islamic periods.
“Pierre Tallet, director of the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology, said bio-archaeological studies will analyse the remains of around 23 individuals to determine their diet, health, age, and sex, especially in light of indications of mummification practices.”
