The Egyptian archaeological mission working at the ancient city of Marina El Alamein on Egypt’s northwestern Mediterranean coast has made a significant new archaeological discovery. Excavations by an Egyptian team, under the direction of Dr. Iman Abdel Khalek, Head of the site, have uncovered 18 ancient tombs, along with several surface burials, sarcophagi, and exceptional archaeological finds.

The mission also revealed additional extensions of the ancient city and its architectural remains, bringing the total number of tombs discovered at the site since its initial discovery in 1986 to 44. This further confirms the site’s importance as one of the most significant ancient coastal cities on the Mediterranean.

The finds

According to Mohamed Abdel Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the discoveries include 11 rock-cut hypogeum tombs, with an average depth of eight meters, and seven above-ground limestone tombs. Some are exceptionally well preserved, containing burial chambers sealed with stone slabs that have remained unopened since antiquity.

Excavations also uncovered numerous surface burials surrounding the tombs, reflecting the city’s social diversity, as well as a water well that was later reused for burials. This provides clear evidence of the continued influence of ancient Egyptian funerary traditions during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods.

The excavations yielded a remarkable collection of artifacts, including complete and nearly complete pottery vessels, amphorae, oil lamps, plates, limestone altars and basins, and architectural elements associated with the tombs.

Dr. Hisham Hussein, Head of the Central Administration for Lower Egypt Antiquities, noted that among the most important discoveries is a limestone offering altar featuring an architectural façade that imitates the ancient Egyptian false door, a key element in Egyptian funerary beliefs. Other finds include an unfinished marble statue believed to depict the goddess Aphrodite, a limestone funerary stele depicting a seated man holding a bird, and several glass unguentaria (tear bottles).

Dr. Iman Abdel Khalek, Director of the archaeological site and head of the mission, announced the discovery of a 2.5-meter-long granite sarcophagus with its original lid still intact. Human skeletal remains found inside are currently undergoing scientific analysis. Nearby, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a plaster Sphinx statue, providing further evidence of the persistence of Egyptian religious and artistic traditions during the Hellenistic and Roman eras.

Among the most remarkable discoveries are 24 gold pieces placed inside the mouths of some of the deceased, representing the so-called golden tongue, a funerary practice associated with beliefs of the period. One of these gold pieces is shaped as the Eye of Horus, one of the most important protective symbols in ancient Egyptian religion.

What is next?

Sherif Fathy, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, stated that the discovery represents an important scientific and archaeological contribution toward understanding the cultural identity of the inhabitants of ancient Marina El Alamein and reassessing its historical role as a cultural and commercial hub linking Egypt with the wider Mediterranean world. He emphasized that the Ministry is giving high priority to ongoing scientific excavations as part of preparations to open the site to visitors, creating a new cultural tourism destination alongside the North Coast’s well-known beach tourism.

Dr. Hisham El-Leithy explained that the site’s development project will include a visitor center, electric vehicle and pedestrian pathways, a museum storage facility, administrative buildings, and an open-air theater. The project is expected to be completed during the first half of next year, transforming Marina El Alamein into an integrated archaeological and tourism destination.

From Leukaspis to Marina

Marina El Alamein is located on Egypt’s northwestern Mediterranean coast, approximately 100 kilometers west of Alexandria. It 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 in urban and economic development during the first three centuries CE.

The site was discovered in 1986 during construction work in the Marina area. Since then, extensive archaeological excavations and research have revealed one of Egypt’s best-preserved ancient coastal cities, featuring an organized street network, residential buildings, public structures, a harbor, commercial districts, and extensive cemeteries that illustrate the rich cultural diversity of Egypt’s Mediterranean coast during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

This latest discovery marks another important step toward a fuller understanding of the city’s history and strengthens its position as one of the most important archaeological and cultural destinations on Egypt’s North Coast, reflecting the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities’ ongoing efforts to preserve and present Egypt’s rich cultural heritage to visitors.

To find out more about Hellenistic and Roman necropoleis in Egypt, see here, here, and here.