Byzantine monastic complex uncovered in Upper Egypt
Archaeologists identify planned residential and religious settlement with Coptic inscriptions in Sohag’s Tima district
SOHAG, Egypt (MNTV) — Egyptian archaeologists have uncovered the remains of an integrated Byzantine-era monastic complex in Upper Egypt, revealing a planned residential and religious settlement dating to early Christian history.
The discovery was made at al-Duweir village (Qaryet bil-Duweir) in the Tima district of Sohag Governorate, a Nile Valley region located between Luxor and Asyut, several hundred kilometers south of Cairo, according to Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Excavations revealed multiple mudbrick buildings aligned roughly west to east, ranging in size from approximately 8 × 7 meters to 14 × 8 meters. These structures include rectangular halls believed to have been used for worship, along with smaller rooms likely serving devotional or practical functions for monks.
Archaeologists also documented plastered wall surfaces, tiled floors, entrances, and surviving architectural supports, including beams. Nearby circular structures may have been used for communal purposes such as shared meals or group activities.
One of the most significant finds is a large east–west mudbrick building measuring about 14 × 10 meters, believed to have functioned as the main church of the complex. The structure appears to include a nave, choir, and sanctuary, with surviving supports suggesting the central space once carried a dome. A semicircular apse was identified at the eastern end, flanked by side chambers.
Beyond the residential and religious areas, the team uncovered installations made of red brick with limestone-plastered basins topped by red tile, possibly linked to water storage or small-scale industrial use within the settlement.
Artifacts recovered from the site include storage amphorae, some bearing marks or writing, Coptic ostraca inscribed on pottery sherds, everyday tools, and architectural stone fragments. Limestone panels inscribed in Coptic script further indicate sustained monastic life rather than an isolated structure.
Upper Egypt is known for its early Christian heritage, though many monastic sites remain only partially explored. Archaeologists say the find offers valuable insight into how Byzantine-era monastic communities in the Nile Valley organized worship, living space, storage, and daily work within a planned settlement.
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