Roman, Coptic, and Byzantine tombs discovered in Minya

Other tasks carried out by the team this season included conservation work on the murals of the basilica on site

A series of tombs from a wide range of periods has been discovered by a Spanish-Egyptian mission working at the ancient site of Oxyrhynchus, in the al Bahnasa region of Minya.

A Roman Period tomb at the ancient site of Oxyrhynchus, containing a sarcophagus without its lid. IMAGE: copyright of the Ministry for Tourism and Antiquities

The team uncovered three tombs from the Persian era, three Roman Period tomb complexes, and 16 individual Byzantine and Coptic tombs, all situated in the upper part of the necropolis.

Coptic period tombs at Oxyrhynchus. IMAGE: copyright of the Ministry for Tourism and Antiquities

The Roman tombs, which were built of limestone, were undecorated and appear to have been looted in antiquity. Burials in the rectangular Coptic tombs were found with protective shrouds and some pottery fragments.

Other tasks carried out by the team this season included conservation work on the murals of the basilica on site, the recording of Coptic and Greek wall texts, and the documentation of site structures using photogrammetry and aerial photography.