Ahead of construction work on a new visitor centre along Egypt's northwestern coast, archaeologists have uncovered a remarkable cluster of sealed ancient tombs, complete with golden tongue amulets placed in the mouths of the dead and a striking array of Hellenistic and Roman-era artefacts. The discoveries at Marina El Alamein offer a vivid new glimpse into funerary belief and daily life in one of Egypt's best-preserved ancient coastal cities.
Image credit: EGYPTIAN TOURISM AND ANTIQUITIES MINISTRY
The Discovery
Egypt's Tourism and Antiquities Ministry announced in early July the unearthing of 18 tombs and numerous accompanying artefacts during archaeological excavations carried out ahead of construction of a visitor centre at the ancient city of Marina El Alamein. The site is located on Egypt's northwestern coast, roughly 100 kilometres west of Alexandria, and flourished from the Hellenistic period through to the Byzantine era. It is believed to correspond to the city of Leukaspis, mentioned by the ancient Greek geographer Strabo.
Marina El Alamein was first discovered in 1986 during construction work in the surrounding area, and extensive archaeological excavation and study since then have revealed it to be one of the best-preserved ancient coastal cities in Egypt. Of the 18 tombs identified during this latest phase of work, 11 were carved entirely into the rock in a style known as a hypogeum, while the remaining seven were built above ground from limestone, according to Mohamed Abdel Badie, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
What Archaeologists Found
Several of the tombs were found in an exceptional state of preservation, with chamber entrances still sealed by stone slabs that had remained undisturbed since ancient times. Among the most striking finds was a granite sarcophagus measuring 2.5 metres in length, discovered with its original lid still in place, as reported by Eman Abdel Khalek, leader of the archaeological mission. Skeletal remains recovered from within are currently undergoing further study.
Khalek also reported the discovery of a collection of 24 "golden tongue" pieces, found placed inside the mouths of some of the deceased. One of these amulets was shaped like the Eye of Horus, a significant protective symbol in ancient Egyptian belief. Several surface burials were also identified in the area surrounding the tombs, along with a well believed to have been reused for burial purposes in antiquity.
Beyond the tombs themselves, excavators recovered a wide range of accompanying artefacts, including complete and partially complete pottery vessels, amphorae, oil lamps, plates, limestone altars and basins, together with various architectural elements associated with the tomb structures. According to Hisham Hussein, Head of the Central Administration for Lower Egypt Antiquities, the most notable single discovery was a limestone altar used for presenting offerings, featuring an ancient Egyptian funerary "false door" facade.
Further finds included an unfinished statue of the Greek goddess Aphrodite, a limestone gravestone depicting a seated man holding a bird, a number of glass tear bottles, and the remains of a plaster sphinx statue.
Historical Background
According to the ministry, these discoveries offer a clear example of the continued influence of ancient Egyptian funerary traditions on tomb architecture during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, even as the region absorbed strong Hellenistic and later Roman cultural influences. The presence of both traditional Egyptian religious symbolism, such as the Eye of Horus, alongside distinctly Greek artistic subjects, such as the Aphrodite statue, reflects the culturally layered character of Marina El Alamein across the centuries of its occupation.
This blending of traditions is consistent with the site's identification as Leukaspis, a coastal settlement that would have sat at the crossroads of Egyptian, Greek and later Roman cultural currents along the Mediterranean coast.
Scientific Analysis
The skeletal remains recovered from the granite sarcophagus and other tombs are currently being studied, offering researchers the opportunity to gather direct biological evidence about the individuals interred at the site, potentially including information about their health, diet and manner of burial. The presence of golden tongue amulets, a practice associated with ensuring the deceased could speak in the afterlife, provides valuable material evidence for funerary belief systems that combined indigenous Egyptian religious concepts with the burial customs of the site's Greek and Roman-influenced population.
The variety of architectural tomb styles identified, from rock-cut hypogea to above-ground limestone structures, further allows researchers to examine how funerary architecture at Marina El Alamein evolved and diversified over the course of the city's long occupation.
Why This Discovery Matters
This collection of finds significantly enriches understanding of daily life, belief and cultural interaction at one of Egypt's most important surviving coastal settlements from the Hellenistic through Byzantine periods. The combination of well-preserved sealed tombs, distinctive funerary amulets and a wide range of associated artefacts provides an unusually rich and multi-layered body of evidence for studying how Egyptian, Greek and Roman traditions coexisted and intertwined within funerary practice.
The discovery also adds meaningfully to the broader archaeological record of Egypt's northwestern coast, an area that has received comparatively less attention than the country's more famous inland and southern sites, despite its significance as a hub of Mediterranean cultural exchange.
What's Next?
Dr Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, has confirmed that the ministry is working to transform Marina El Alamein into a formal tourist destination. Planned developments include a visitor centre, roads and pedestrian paths, a museum storage facility, administrative headquarters and an open-air theatre. Construction and development work is expected to be completed during the first half of 2027, according to El-Leithy.
As development work proceeds, further archaeological excavation ahead of construction is likely to continue revealing additional tombs and artefacts, given the site's demonstrated density of well-preserved ancient remains.
Conclusion
The discovery of 18 sealed tombs, golden tongue amulets and an array of finely crafted artefacts at Marina El Alamein offers a vivid and multifaceted window into life, death and belief along Egypt's ancient northwestern coast. As the site is prepared for its new role as a formal tourist destination, these finds ensure that its rich, culturally layered history — blending Egyptian, Greek and Roman traditions — will be preserved and shared with visitors for years to come.
FAQ
Q: What was discovered at Marina El Alamein? A: Archaeologists uncovered 18 tombs, including 11 rock-cut hypogea and seven above-ground limestone structures, along with 24 golden tongue amulets and a range of other artefacts.
Q: What were the golden tongues used for? A: They were placed inside the mouths of the deceased, a funerary practice reflecting ancient Egyptian belief, with one example shaped like the Eye of Horus, a protective symbol.
Q: Where is Marina El Alamein located? A: It is situated on Egypt's northwestern coast, approximately 100 kilometres west of Alexandria, and is believed to be the ancient city of Leukaspis.
Q: What other artefacts were found at the site? A: Finds included an unfinished statue of the Greek goddess Aphrodite, a limestone gravestone, glass tear bottles, pottery vessels, oil lamps and the remains of a plaster sphinx statue.
Q: What are the future plans for the site? A: Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities plans to develop Marina El Alamein into a formal tourist site with a visitor centre, museum storage facility and open-air theatre, with completion expected in the first half of 2027.
