NEW DISCOVERY...

An Egyptian archaeological mission from the ministry of antiquities uncovered a collection of rock-hewn tombs and remains of a residential area from the Coptic era, during excavation work carried out in the archaeological area beside Al-Nassara necropolis in Al-Bahnasa in Menia Governorate.
Aymen Ashmawi, Head of the Ancient Egyptian Sector at the ministry announced.
On his part, Gamal Al-Semestawi, Director General of Antiquities of Middle Egypt explains that the rock-hewn tombs are dated to the fifth century AD and houses a collection of burial chambers of 50x70 meters wide.
The residential area is of 100x 130 meters vast and has remains of houses among them the remains of a mud-brick house of a monk.
"This fact suggests that the archaeological site beside Al-Nassara necropolis was a monks complex," said Al-Semestawi.
He added that the mission has also found a collection of monks cells and a water will.
Excavations started in this area in 2008 when the mission uncovered remains of a fifth century church built of mud-brick as well as a shrine; a prayer hall and a number of chambers with walls covered with plaster and decorated with coloured decorative elements and religious carols written in Coptic language.
Regretfully, said Al-Semestawi, these remains were subjected to destruction during the lack of security in the aftermath of January revolution 2011.
Gamal Mohamed, Director of Maghagha antiquities said that in 2013 the excavation work resumed after two years of pause and the mission discovered remains of a monk chamber, a prayer hall, a kitchen and a grain store with walls decorated with red crosses.
The lower part of a monk's tomb stone was unearthed as well as a collection of metal coins and clay pots.
The coins and pots are now under restoration and study.
Al Bahnasa town is located on the West Bank of the Nile near Beni Mazzar town north of Menia.
During the Hellenistic era Al-Banasa was called "Oxirenkhos" and in the Islamic period it was known as Al-Bahnasa referring to the daughter of the town's ruler at that time.