6th or 7th century AD Coptic structure unearthed in Assiut, Upper Egypt - Ancient Egypt

Al-Ahram Weekly

25-05-2025

An Egyptian-led archaeological team unearthed the remains of a mudbrick structure in the Monqabad area of Assiut in Upper Egypt, believed to date back to the sixth and seventh centuries AD.
Further excavation is underway to determine the exact function and significance of the mudbrick structure.
Mohamed Ismail Khaled, the Supreme Council of Antiquities secretary-general, described the building as having two levels coated in white plaster.
The archaeologists also found inscriptions and carvings on walls, which could shed new light on early Coptic art and spirituality.
These murals include a unique depiction of multiple eyes surrounding a central face, which is interpreted as representing spiritual insight and inner vision, key themes in Coptic religious tradition.
Another striking mural features a man holding a child, believed to represent Saint Joseph carrying the Christ Child. The mural is flanked by figures thought to be Jesus' disciples, with inscriptions in the Coptic language.
Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish Antiquities Sector Head Gamal Mostafa said the upper level contains three parallel halls followed by two rooms, while the lower level features monastic cells and living quarters.
Among the artefacts unearthed were also pottery fragments, stone objects, and a tombstone inscribed in Coptic, identifying a saint with the date of his death.
Moreover, the excavation revealed several amphorae bearing Coptic letters and a stone frieze with animal carvings, including a deer and a lion, alongside domestic pottery vessels.
Meanwhile, Mahmoud Mohamed, director-general of Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish Antiquities in East Assiut, noted that excavation and documentation efforts will continue in the coming weeks.
'We are still uncovering the story of this building and what it may reveal about Coptic life in Upper Egypt during this period,' he said.
The Monqabad archaeological site, located approximately 12 kilometres northwest of Assiut city and about 22 kilometres from Assiut International Airport, has a long history of exploration.
Systematic excavations at the site, which was first identified in 1965, began in 1976 and continued intermittently until 2010.
Work resumed in 2024 under the current Egyptian-led archaeological mission.
This latest discovery adds a valuable chapter to understanding Coptic heritage and monastic life in Egypt's early Christian era and underscores the continued importance of archaeological work in the region.
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