Egypt: Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced Monday the discovery of parts of an 18th-century mudbrick residential city dating to the era of Sheikh Al-Arab Hammam in Qena Governorate, alongside a Byzantine Coptic necropolis beneath it.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy stated that the project aims to uncover the site's history and preserve it for inclusion on the tourist map, noting its strategic location between Dendera and Abydos.
Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Hisham El-Leithy emphasized that the find enhances the understanding of life in Upper Egypt, particularly in the Al-Arki area, where historical sources are limited.
Head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities Sector Diaa Zahran reported that excavations revealed six houses with service buildings and part of an industrial zone. Some houses featured mudbrick domes, while others had roofs made of palm trunks.
Discovered artifacts included bronze coins, pottery, children's toys, jewelry, and textiles, indicating the site's various daily activities. Mission head Ahmad El-Shoky noted that a Byzantine limestone coffin lid was found reused as flooring at one city entrance, prompting a geophysical survey in collaboration with the Remote Sensing and Space Sciences Authority.
The necropolis features two styles of burials: direct interment in soil and graves outlined with mudbrick courses. Artifacts found included pottery, linen shrouds, and Coptic tunics adorned with plant, geometric, and animal motifs, crosses, and Coptic inscriptions.
Sheikh Al-Arab Hammam bin Youssef was a significant 18th-century leader in Upper Egypt, extending his influence from Minya to Aswan.