The discovery of a group of tombs from the Persian, Roman and Coptic eras in the Bahnasa region, Minya Governorate

The joint Egyptian-Spanish archaeological mission between the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Barcelona, operating in the Bahnasa area in Minya Governorate, succeeded in uncovering three limestone tombs from the Roman era, three other individual tombs from the Persian era, and sixteen tombs from the Byzantine and Coptic eras, during excavations in the area. Upper cemetery.

This was stated by Dr. Mostafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, pointing out that the excavation work this season yielded important results related to the history of this site, which will be studied and revealed during the coming period with the completion of excavation work at the site, which would reveal many One of the secrets of this important site in ancient Egypt.

For his part, Dr. said. Adel Okasha, head of the Central Department of Antiquities in Central Egypt, said that the tombs discovered from the Roman era were built of limestone and were mostly vaulted, and they were found demolished to the level of the foundations and were not inscribed.

He added that preliminary studies of the tombs of the Sawi era showed that they were stolen in ancient times, which is explained by the fact that no funerary furniture was found in them.

As for the tombs of the Coptic era, they are a rectangular hole in the ground, the upper part of which was built to the east, and some pottery vessels and lamps were found next to it.

In the same context, Dr. explained. Hassan Amer, a professor of Egyptian antiquities at the Faculty of Archeology, Cairo University and director of the excavations of the mission, said that the mission carried out work to process the archaeological finds that were discovered and to consolidate and strengthen the wall drawings on the walls of the basilica at the site, in addition to studying the Coptic and Greek texts written on the walls or on the panels, indicating that The site has also been documented by numerous 3D and aerial photographs.

As reported by Dr. Esther Pons Melado and Dr. Mayte Maskurt, the heads of the mission from the Spanish side, said that the mission had succeeded during its last excavation season in uncovering a number of individual tombs from the Persian and Roman eras, including a closed cemetery that had not been opened before, stressing that the mission will continue its work to discover more about this site.