Credit: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities - Egypt

(CNN)-- Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced Saturday the discovery of 18 ancient tombs, along with a number of surface burials, coffins, and artifacts, in the ancient city of Marina el-Alamein on the northwestern coast of Egypt.

The ministry said in a statement on its official Facebook page that 'the Egyptian archaeological mission working in the ancient city of Marina el-Alamein on the northwestern coast succeeded in discovering 18 ancient tombs, along with a number of surface burials, coffins, and artifacts, during excavation work at the site.'

The statement also indicated that the mission revealed 'remains of the ancient city's extensions and its architectural components, bringing the total number of tombs discovered in the area since the site's discovery in 1986 to 44 tombs, which enhances the site's importance as one of the most prominent ancient coastal cities on the Mediterranean Sea.'

Credit: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities- Egypt/facebook

For his part, the head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mohamed Abdel Badie, explained that the discovered tombs 'include 11 tombs completely carved into rock (hypogeum) with an average depth of 8 meters, in addition to 7 surface tombs built of limestone.'

Credit: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities- Egypt/facebook

Some tombs are characterized by exceptional preservation, with burial shafts found sealed with stone slabs that had not been opened since ancient times, according to the statement.

The excavations revealed 'numerous surface burials around the tombs, reflecting the social diversity of the city's inhabitants, in addition to a water well that was reused for burial purposes in a later period, which represents a clear model of the continuity of ancient Egyptian influences in funerary architecture during the Ptolemaic and Roman eras,' according to the statement.

The excavations also yielded a distinguished collection of artifacts, including complete and semi-complete pottery vessels, amphorae (clay jars for transporting and storing basic goods), oil lamps, plates, limestone altars and basins, as well as a number of architectural elements associated with the tombs.

Credit: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities- Egypt/facebook

For his part, the head of the Central Administration for Antiquities of Lower Egypt, Hisham Hussein, stated that among the most notable discoveries are a limestone offering altar with a distinctive architectural facade imitating the 'false door' known in ancient Egyptian funerary beliefs, in addition to an unfinished marble statue believed to represent the goddess Aphrodite, a limestone funerary stele depicting a seated man holding a bird, and a number of glass teardrop vials (lacrimatories).

Credit: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities- Egypt/facebook

The head of the mission and director of the area, Eman Abdel Khalek, noted that a granite sarcophagus 2.5 meters long was uncovered, with its original lid still in place, containing bone remains that are currently under study. Nearby, remains of a plaster sphinx statue were found, confirming the continuity of Egyptian religious and artistic influences within the city during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

Credit: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities- Egypt/facebook

She added that among the most notable discoveries were '24 gold pieces placed inside the mouths of some of the deceased, representing what is known as the golden tongue, an element associated with funerary beliefs in that period, including a gold piece in the shape of the Eye of Horus, which is one of the most important protective symbols in ancient Egyptian belief.'

The ancient city of Marina el-Alamein is located about 100 kilometers west of Alexandria, and is believed to represent the city of 'Leukaspis' mentioned by the Greek geographer Strabo. The city flourished from the Hellenistic period through the Byzantine period, reaching its peak of urban and economic activity during the first three centuries AD.

The site was discovered in 1986 during construction work in the Marina area, and since then extensive archaeological excavations and studies have revealed one of the best-preserved ancient coastal cities in Egypt, comprising a network of streets, houses, public facilities, a port, commercial areas, as well as vast cemeteries reflecting the cultural and civilizational diversity that characterized Egypt's coastal cities during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.