An international team of archaeologists has uncovered a significant industrial complex and burial site in Egypt’s western Nile Delta, per artnews.com.
The discovery, made by researchers from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Padua, spans two sites in the Beheira Governorate: Kom Al-Ahmar and Kom Wasit.
The find includes a large Ptolemaic-era building dating back to roughly 300 BCE. Inside, archaeologists discovered nearly 10,000 fish bones across two rooms, identifying the site as a major centre for salted fish production. Other rooms contained pottery fragments, amulets, and tools, suggesting a multi-purpose manufacturing hub.
Nearby, a Roman-period necropolis revealed the remains of 23 individuals, including men, women, and children. Burial methods varied significantly, with remains found in traditional ground graves, pottery coffins, and large clay jars known as amphorae.
Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, stated that the find “enriches research into settlement patterns and industrial production,” providing fresh insight into regional life from the Late Period through to the early Islamic era.
While the University of Padua continues to analyse the human remains to determine diet and health, many recovered artefacts are being transferred to the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza for preservation.
•Featured image: Site of the recent excavation in the western Nile delta/Courtesy Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
