An announcement from the Archaeological Mission of Alexandria has revealed that an array of Greek and Roman artefacts has been found in Alexandria, Egypt.
That date back to the 1st and 2nd centuries BC.
The discovery is unique because it was used as an industrial, trade zone as well as a cemetery.
The complex is a network of walls that were made with carefully cut stones as well as ovens that were build into the walls.
There is also evidence that the walls one other features had been rebuild or renovated over the years that they were in use.
It is thought that the site would have been used to cook meals for a military unit.
There was also a large number of cooking utensil and pottery vessels unearthed that were used to date the site to between the 1st and 2nd centuries BC.
Amongst these were ancient Greek artefacts, such as an engraved lamp stand as well as a beautiful perfume bottle that were unearthed from the site.
The artefacts were uniquely decorated with motifs related to the Graeco-Egyptian deity Serapis who’s cult was introduced to Egypt during the third century BC as a means to unify the Greeks and Egyptians.
Also discovered within the industrial complex were two corpses, both women, and one wearing a copper ring.
The bodies were both found next to a wall near a closed oven. It is thought that this may have been a place where the poor may have buried their dead.
The site is still being excavated and has the potential to reveal more about ancient industrial complexes in the ancient Greco-Roman era of Egypt.
