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Archaeologists have uncovered an entire residential city that dates back to 1800 in the heart of the southern Egyptian city of Luxor.
A number of residential buildings, two pigeon towers and metal workshops were discovered.
A collection of dishes, tools and bronze and copper Roman coins were found in them.
This is a rare archaeological find in Egypt, where excavations are mostly of temples and tombs.
An ancient tomb about 3,500 years old was discovered in Luxor, Egypt
According to experts, it is the oldest and most important city discovered on the east bank of Luxor.
In April 2021, authorities announced the discovery of a 3,000-year-old "lost city of gold" on the west bank of Luxor, which the archaeological team called the "largest" ancient city ever discovered in Egypt.
Several major archaeological discoveries have been made there in recent years.
Critics argue that the rush of excavations prioritizes media-grabbing finds over serious scientific research.
The findings are a key element of Egypt's attempts to revive its vital tourism industry after years of political unrest, as well as the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government's plans, capped by the long-delayed opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum at the foot of the Giza pyramids, aim to start attracting 30 million tourists a year by 2028, up 13 million from before the pandemic.
The country of 104 million people is suffering from a severe economic crisis, and Egypt's tourism industry provides 10% of the gross domestic product (GDP) and about 2 million jobs.
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ancient town