Roman-era necropolis, ancient workshops unearthed in Egypt’s western Nile Delta
Officials said the findings, announced by Egypt’s antiquities authority, shed light on settlement patterns, production and burial practices from the late period through Roman and early Islamic times.
Archaeologists have discovered a complex of ancient industrial workshops and part of a Roman-era necropolis in the Nile Delta in western Egypt, according to Ahram Online.
The joint University of Padua-Supreme Council of Antiquities mission discovered Kom Al-Ahmar and Kom Wasit in Beheira governorate, revealing a large structure with specialized rooms and several types of burial.
Officials said the findings, announced by Egypt’s antiquities authority, shed light on settlement patterns, production and burial practices from the late period through Roman and early Islamic times.
The mission identified at least six rooms inside a large building. Two rooms were dedicated to fish processing, where some 9,700 fish bones provide evidence of large-scale production of salted fish. Other rooms appear to have been used for the manufacture of metal and stone tools as well as the manufacture of earthenware amulets.
Evidence of artisanal production and Mediterranean links
Archaeologists have found unfinished limestone statues and artifacts in several stages of production. Imported amphorae and fragments of Greek pottery suggest activity as early as the 5th century BCE, indicating exchange networks linked to neighboring Alexandria. Officials said the complex improves understanding of economic life in the delta’s interior communities.
Archaeologists have discovered a complex of ancient industrial workshops and part of a Roman-era necropolis in the Nile Delta in western Egypt. (credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.)
Next to the workshops, excavators uncovered part of a Roman necropolis with several types of burials. These included simple burials dug in the ground, burials in pottery coffins, and burials of children in large amphorae. The skeletal remains of 23 individuals are the subject of bioarchaeological analyzes to assess their diet, age, sex and state of health.
Initial results indicate relatively good living conditions, with no obvious signs of serious illness or violent trauma. Notable finds include dozens of complete amphorae and a pair of gold earrings believed to have belonged to a young girl. The objects were transferred to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo for study and conservation.
Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the discoveries deepen knowledge about daily life and human activity in the Western Delta and the hinterland around Alexandria. Cristina Mondin, head of mission from the University of Padua, added that the ongoing analyzes will help refine the understanding of the demographic profile of the community. Together, the findings highlight the region’s role as a hub of production and cultural exchange supported by Mediterranean trade.
