Importance of Egypt’s discovery of archaeological monastic buildings in Bahariya Oasis
Egypt announced a new archaeological discovery in the Bahariya Oasis with archaeological buildings dating back to the fifth and seventh centuries, where monks settled down.
CAIRO — The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a press release March 13 that a Norwegian-French archaeological mission operating in Egypt discovered ancient buildings at a site that monks settled in during the fifth century in the Bahariya Oasis, to the southwest of Cairo.
The ministry noted that the mission unearthed several buildings made of basalt stone and carved into the rock, as well as buildings made of mud bricks in the Tal area, south of Qasr al-Ajouz in the Bahariya Oasis.
The statement cited Victor Gica, head of the mission, as saying that the importance of this discovery lies in the fact that it “provides insight into the planning of buildings and the formation of the first monastic congregations in Egypt in this region.”
Gica also said that the mission unveiled 19 rooms carved into the rock as well as a well-preserved church with two stone-carved rooms attached.
