A 1,700-Year-Old City with a Christian Church Discovered in Egypt

On July 3, 2026, in the Dahla oasis in the Egyptian province of New Valley, archaeologists discovered a well-preserved early Byzantine settlement featuring residential quarters, streets, a fortress, and a Christian church, according to Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

The excavations were conducted by an Egyptian archaeological mission of the Supreme Council of Antiquities at the Ain el-Sabil site. All the buildings were constructed of mud brick, and the city had a clear layout with main streets, side passages, quarters, and open squares.

One of the most significant finds was a basilica-style church dating to the mid-4th century, located in the center of the settlement. Archaeologists also examined a house believed to have belonged to a church deacon, as well as another building that may have been used as a house church prior to the construction of a separate place of worship.

According to the researchers, these discoveries reveal how a Christian community took shape in the Dahla oasis. It appears that worship services were initially held in a private home, and the faithful later built a full-fledged basilica.

In addition to the Christian monuments, archaeologists uncovered residential houses, kitchens, bread ovens, watchtowers, and a fortress. Among the finds were approximately 200 ostraca bearing Greek and Coptic inscriptions, as well as bronze and gold coins with Christian symbols, which help shed light on life in this early Christian settlement nearly 1,700 years ago.

The Union of Orthodox Journalists previously reported that an ancient monastery dating to the 4th–6th centuries was discovered in Egypt.