Roman camp and rock-cut tombs discovered in Egypt’s Nile Delta

Archaeologists excavating at Tell el-Yahudiya, also known as the ancient city of Leontopolis in Egypt’s eastern Nile Delta, have uncovered traces of a Roman military camp and a series of rare rock-cut tombs.

The discovery, located in the Qalyubia province, is significant because rock-cut tombs are uncommon in this region due to the predominantly clay-based soil. The excavations revealed two primary architectural styles of funerary structures: one featuring a staircase leading to a hall with burial niches, and another consisting of a rectangular shaft leading to two burial chambers.

Artifacts found within the tombs have allowed researchers to date the burials from the New Kingdom through the Late Period. Authorities from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities stated that these findings provide deeper insight into the historical transformations and burial practices of the site across different eras.