The Tamesis
Recently, the foundations of a 5th to 6th century AD building complex were discovered at the archaeological site of Al-Qarya bi-Al-Duweir in Sohag, a city along the Nile River in central Egypt. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities posted information about the discovery on X on January 8, noting that the mission was overseen by the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
according to Pyramid OnlineMinister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy observed that Byzantine-era residential areas “got rid of[s] New insights into early Christian monastic life in Upper Egypt. ” Fathy also hopes the discovery will draw attention to tourists and potential researchers to the Al-Qarya bi-Al-Duweir archaeological site, which is not as well-known as other archaeological sites in Egypt.
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Mohammad Ismail Khalid, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, reported that the mud-brick complex was well organized and was likely a self-sufficient community. Each building, the smallest approximately 25 x 23 feet and the largest approximately 45 x 25 feet, houses spaces for worship and devotion. Some of the courtyards contain the remains of circular structures that researchers believe were used as dining tables. There is also a larger (approximately 45 x 33 feet) structure, including the nave, choir, semicircular sanctuary and columns that once supported the dome, that served as the church for the monastic community.
In addition to the buildings, archaeologists found brick and limestone basins, amphora (water storage jars), pottery sherds (pottery fragments) and tools that may have been used for water storage.
