Egypt’s archaeological landscape continues to unveil remarkable chapters of its past with new discoveries at Marina El Alamein, one of the country’s best-preserved ancient Mediterranean cities. The latest excavation has uncovered 18 tombs, a sealed granite sarcophagus, gold funerary artefacts, and architectural remains that offer fresh insights into the city’s role as a thriving cultural and commercial centre where Egyptian and Greco-Roman traditions flourished side by side.
The discoveries were made by an Egyptian archaeological mission working at the site on Egypt’s northwestern Mediterranean coast, bringing the total number of excavated tombs at Marina El Alamein to 44 since archaeological work began in 1986.
Among the most remarkable finds are 24 gold funerary objects, including examples of the ancient “golden tongue”ritual, believed to enable the deceased to speak in the afterlife, as well as a rare gold Eye of Horus amulet. Archaeologists also uncovered a sealed granite sarcophagus, an unfinished marble statue believed to depict Aphrodite, a limestone funerary stele, pottery, amphorae, oil lamps, and architectural elements that illustrate the city’s multicultural character during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
The discoveries further reinforce Marina El Alamein’s historical importance as the ancient city of Leukaspis, a prosperous urban, commercial, and maritime centre that flourished along Egypt’s Mediterranean coast between the Hellenistic and Byzantine periods.
Alongside ongoing archaeological excavations, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is continuing an ambitious development project that will transform Marina El Alamein into a fully integrated cultural tourism destination. Scheduled for completion during the first half of 2027, the project will introduce a visitor centre, dedicated visitor routes, electric transport, museum storage facilities, an administrative building, and an open-air theatre, creating an immersive experience for visitors exploring the ancient city.
Located approximately 100 kilometres west of Alexandria, Marina El Alamein offers a unique opportunity to discover a different chapter of Egypt’s history—one shaped by the interaction of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman civilizations along the Mediterranean.
As Egypt continues to diversify its cultural tourism offering beyond its iconic Pharaonic monuments, Marina El Alamein is emerging as one of the country’s most promising heritage destinations, complementing the North Coast’s renowned beaches with a rich archaeological legacy that spans centuries.
