Egypt uncovers 18 ancient tombs at Marina El Alamein archaeological site
An Egyptian archaeological mission working at the Marina El Alamein Archaeological Site on Egypt’s northwestern Mediterranean coast has uncovered 18 ancient tombs, together with a collection of sarcophagi, surface burials and archaeological artefacts, offering new insights into the history and cultural significance of one of Egypt’s most important ancient coastal cities.
The latest excavations also revealed additional architectural remains that extend the known boundaries of the ancient settlement. With these discoveries, the total number of tombs identified at the site since its discovery in 1986 has risen to 44, further reinforcing Marina El Alamein’s status as one of the Mediterranean’s most significant archaeological sites.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy described the discovery as an important scientific and archaeological achievement that will deepen understanding of the cultural identity of the city’s ancient inhabitants and its historical role as a centre linking Egypt with the wider Mediterranean world.
He said the ministry is continuing excavation and development work at the site in preparation for opening it to visitors, creating a new cultural tourism destination to complement the North Coast’s well-established beach tourism.
According to Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the site’s development project includes a visitor centre, electric vehicle and pedestrian routes, a museum storage facility, an administrative building and an open-air theatre. The project is expected to be completed during the first half of next year.
Mohamed Abdel Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the newly discovered cemetery consists of 11 rock-cut hypogea, averaging around eight metres in depth, and seven above-ground limestone tombs. Several of the burial chambers were found in exceptional condition, with their entrances still sealed since antiquity.
Excavations also uncovered a number of surface burials surrounding the tombs, reflecting the city’s social diversity, as well as a water well that was later repurposed for burials, providing further evidence of the continued influence of ancient Egyptian funerary traditions during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods.
Archaeologists recovered a wide range of artefacts, including complete and nearly intact pottery vessels, amphorae, oil lamps, plates, limestone altars, basins and architectural elements associated with the tombs.
Hisham Hussein, Head of the Central Administration for Lower Egypt Antiquities, said one of the most significant discoveries was a limestone offering altar carved in the form of the ancient Egyptian false door, a prominent feature of traditional funerary beliefs.
The mission also uncovered an unfinished marble statue believed to depict the goddess Aphrodite, a limestone funerary stele portraying a seated man holding a bird, and several glass tear bottles commonly associated with ancient burial practices.
Mission director Iman Abdel Khalek said excavators also discovered a 2.5-metre granite sarcophagus with its original lid still sealed. Human skeletal remains found inside are currently undergoing scientific analysis.
Adjacent to the sarcophagus, archaeologists uncovered fragments of a plaster sphinx statue, providing further evidence of the enduring influence of Egyptian religious and artistic traditions within the city during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
Among the most remarkable discoveries were 24 gold funerary pieces placed inside the mouths of some of the deceased as part of the “golden tongue” funerary ritual, which was associated with beliefs about the afterlife during that period. One of the gold pieces was crafted in the shape of the Eye of Horus, one of ancient Egypt’s most important symbols of protection.
Located around 100 kilometres west of Alexandria, Marina El Alamein is widely believed to be the ancient city of Leukaspis, mentioned by the Greek geographer Strabo. The city flourished from the Hellenistic through the Byzantine periods, reaching its peak during the first three centuries AD.
The archaeological site was first discovered in 1986 during construction work in the Marina area. Since then, excavations have revealed one of Egypt’s best-preserved ancient coastal cities, featuring a well-planned street network, residential neighbourhoods, public buildings, a harbour, commercial districts and extensive cemeteries that illustrate the rich cultural diversity of Mediterranean Egypt during the Hellenistic and Roman eras.
The latest discoveries mark another significant step towards understanding the city’s history while supporting ongoing efforts to preserve the site and develop it into one of Egypt’s leading archaeological and cultural tourism destinations.
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