As humans dream of venturing to other planets and creating a virtual world with the help of AI, the hand that was holding tight with the past seems to be losing its grip. In the race to develop the future, the rich depths of the past are getting lost. Those that define our origins, reveal our evolution and connect us with each other more than we already do.A recent discovery in Egypt has inspired many to continue touching grass with the past of human civilisation. On Saturday, the country announced two major archaeological finds. Among them, one is a well-preserved Byzantine-era residential city in the western desert.
A slice of the past
Archaeologists also uncovered bread ovens, kitchens and stone grinding tools that had been used to cook food.
The Tourism and Antiquities Ministry said that the first discovery reveals details of daily life, urban development and economic activities in the Dakhla Oasis in the fourth century, back when the country was part of the Byzantine empire. The unearthed quarters included north-south thoroughfares intersected by east-west streets, forming open squares and public spaces, said Hisham el-Leithy, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.A basilica church dating back to the mid-fourth century also stands at the settlement’s head, overlooking the main streets. Alongside are two watchtowers to safeguard the outskirts, said Mahmoud Massoud, who chairs the archaeological mission. A heavily fortified structure with thick defensive walls and many houses consisting of reception halls and vaulted roofs were also found in the area. Among them was the house of Tisous, identified as a church deacon and dating to the second half of the fourth century, which archaeologists believe served as a house church before the basilica was constructed in the city.Not just abodes and religious institutions, archaeologists also uncovered bread ovens, kitchens and stone grinding tools that had been used to cook food. Well-preserved bronze coins bearing portraits of Byzantine emperors, Latin inscriptions and Christian symbols, alongside a group of gold coins dating to the reign of Roman emperor Constantinus II, who ruled between 337 and 361, were also found at the site.200 pottery fragments known as Octraca, that would have been used as writing materials were also discovered, revealed Diaa Zahran, head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities department. These have inscriptions detailing commercial transactions, correspondence and other details of daily life.The Dakhla Oasis, located in Egypt’s western province of New Valley in the western desert is on UNESCO’s Tentative List. It is only a step away from being added to the agency’s World Heritage List.
