Lost Byzantine City Unearthed in Egypt's Western Desert with Intact Church
Lost city discovered beneath Egypt's desert with ancient church
Archaeologists have revealed a remarkably preserved 1,600-year-old Byzantine city hidden beneath Egypt's Western Desert. Located at the Dakhla Oasis, this sprawling settlement features a central basilica, fortified watchtowers, and homes complete with bread ovens and stone mills. The discovery includes nearly 200 inscribed pottery fragments and coins, offering an unprecedented glimpse into daily life and commerce during the 4th century.
Experts say the discovery provides one of the clearest pictures yet of life in Egypt's remote oases during the Byzantine Empire.
- declan_roberts
> During this period, from the late fourth to the mid-seventh century AD, Christianity became the dominant religion, towns expanded across the country and Egypt served as one of the empire's richest provinces.
It's easy to forget how different the Middle East looked before the conquest of Islam starting in 600 AD.
- thisisauserid
A Byzantine lost city around the year 400 CE.
- cmrdporcupine
... Do we have a better source than Daily Mail?
Here: https://archaeologymag.com/2026/07/byzantine-city-with-writt...
and https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/04/archaeologists...
- testoo
anyone else immediately reminded of this lovecraft tale?
- WalterBright
The older I get, the closer in time these ancient civilizations become. It's really not that many lifetimes away.
It's stunning the progress humans have made since then.
- honeycrispy
I wish I could go back in time and visit to see what it was like.
- gaiagraphia
Quite incredible how you can search for this information and it's all just the same article with the same pictures. No maps or anything.
>Lost city discovered beneath Egypt's desert
Sounds incredibly misleading, as if some long lost civ is rising from sand dunes, lol. As far as I'm aware, there have just been ruins uncovered (which look like 6 rooms on the pictures) at Dakhla Oasis, and the site is very obvious on Google Maps.
Are they speaking about Kellis?
- dominotw
this is amazing. I am ancient egypt nerd but sucks that egypt is in egypt. I got scammed last time i went there and ppl were rude and agrresive.