Roman housing compound unearthed in Ismailia

A complete housing compound that dates back to the Roman age has been recently unearthed at Ezzbat Al Awamsha in Ismailia. The find has been made by an Egyptian archaeological team while carrying out a survey on the archaeological sites in the Suez Canal cities to put them under the Archaeological Protection Law.

The find includes a number of stone structures comprising a temple and several houses in addition to a large number of bronze coins and grains indicating the presence of an archaeological city beneath the village of Al Awamsha, one kilometre from the tourist resort of Fayed.

According to Mohamed Abdul Maqsoud Director of Lower Egypt Antiquities, the series of discoveries in the Suez Canal cities had given proof that the area was rich of archaeological potential.

"Steps have to be expediently taken to subject the area to the Archaeological Protection Law and make available required funds for this purpose", said Abdul Maqsoud.

He said contacts in this regard with Ismailia Governor and the Supreme Council for Antiquities had resulted in the allocation of LE 80,000 to start excavations at the villages of Maskhuta and Sarabium.