Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – An Egyptian-led archaeological team has discovered a mudbrick building in the Monqabad area of Assiut in Upper Egypt. The unearthed mudbrick dates back to the 6th–7th century AD.
Image credit: Supreme Council of Antiquities
Monqabad is approximately 12 kilometers northwest of Asyut City. The site was initially discovered in 1965, with periodic excavation seasons beginning in 1976 and extending through to 2010. Subsequently, excavation activities have resumed with the ongoing 2024 mission.
Now, the team focuses on determining the precise function of this ancient structure and its significance to the area.
Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that the building features two levels coated in white plaster.
Image credit: Supreme Council of Antiquities
The archaeologists also found inscriptions and carvings on walls, which could shed new light on Coptic art and spirituality.
These inscriptions and carvings include a unique depiction of multiple eyes surrounding a central face, which is interpreted as representing spiritual insight and inner vision, key themes in Coptic religious tradition.
Another striking mural features a man holding a child, believed to represent Saint Joseph carrying the Christ Child. The mural is flanked by figures thought to be Jesus’ disciples, with inscriptions in the Coptic language.
Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish Antiquities Sector Head Gamal Mostafa said the upper level contains three parallel halls followed by two rooms, while the lower level features monastic cells and living quarters.
Image credit: Supreme Council of Antiquities
Among the artefacts unearthed were also pottery fragments, stone objects, and a tombstone inscribed in Coptic, identifying a saint with the date of his death.
Moreover, the excavation revealed several amphorae bearing Coptic letters and a stone frieze with animal carvings, including a deer and a lion, alongside domestic pottery vessels.
Meanwhile, Mahmoud Mohamed, director-general of Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish Antiquities in East Assiut, noted that excavation and documentation efforts will continue in the coming weeks.
“We are still uncovering the story of this building and what it may reveal about Coptic life in Upper Egypt during this period,” he said.
The Monqabad archaeological site, located approximately 12 kilometres northwest of Assiut city and about 22 kilometres from Assiut International Airport, has a long history of exploration.
This recent discovery makes a significant contribution to the understanding of Coptic heritage and monastic life during Egypt’s early Christian era. It underscores the ongoing importance of archaeological research in this region, highlighting its essential role in uncovering and preserving historical insights.
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Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
