Egypt Announces Major Archaeological Discoveries Spanning Pharaonic to Roman Eras
Egyptian archaeologists have unearthed a significant collection of ancient artefacts across two sites, including the remains of a Roman basilica, a marble head of the Greek goddess Aphrodite, Pharaonic funerary furniture, and inscriptions linked to 12th Dynasty ruler Senusret III. The discoveries, announced on 3 June 2026, were made at the Ehnasiya necropolis in Beni Suef province, 130 kilometres south of Cairo, and in the Matariya neighbourhood of Cairo - once part of the ancient city of Heliopolis. Among the findings are 45-tonne stone column supports from the basilica, terracotta moulds believed to have been used in Roman-era coin crafting, and a gilded coffin burial accompanied by copper mirrors, alabaster kohl containers, and gold earrings. The Egyptian government has positioned such discoveries as central to its broader strategy to attract international visitors, alongside the November 2025 inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids.
The announcements come as Egypt's tourism sector continues a strong recovery trajectory. A record 19 million tourists visited the country in 2025, a 21 per cent increase on 2024, with 6.1 million arrivals recorded in the first four months of 2026 alone, compared with 5.7 million during the same period last year. Tourism had previously been hampered by political instability following the 2011 uprising, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the economic ripple effects of the Russia-Ukraine war - both countries being significant source markets for Egypt. The latest archaeological revelations are expected to further strengthen the country's appeal as a world-class antiquities destination.
Source: ABC News