Tel al‑Deir site in Egypt yields unique tomb markers, figurines and amulets

Egyptian archaeologists working under the Supreme Council of Antiquities announced the discovery of a large assemblage of burial artifacts at the Tel al‑Deir location in Damietta Governorate. The team uncovered roughly twenty limestone tomb markers carved with human figures, ceramic sarcophagi shaped like bodies, a variety of pottery chalices, and numerous funerary amulets. Decorative motifs on the stone markers include symbols such as griffins, Agathodaimon and Isis‑Thermuthis, indicating cultural exchange between Egyptian, Greek and Roman traditions.

The findings, reported during the current excavation season, suggest that Tel al‑Deir functioned as a comprehensive funerary complex rather than a simple burial ground. Officials, including Secretary‑General Hisham Al‑Leithi and Head of Archaeology Mohamed Abdelbadei, said the artifacts provide new opportunities to study the evolution of tomb architecture and social identity in the Nile Delta from the Late Period through the Roman era. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, led by Sherif Fathi, pledged full support to the mission, emphasizing the site's importance for Egyptian heritage research.