North coast excavations yield archaeological riches

Excavations carried out in the Geziret Mariout (Mariout island) area lying to the west of Marina city on the northwestern coast of the Mediterranean have yielded Roman baths, large lime-stone structures and a quay to the north of the island.

The director of Alexandria's antiquities area, Adly Rushdi, said that the team of excavators found walls extending far into the distance and mounds of pottery chard indicating that pottery works had once existed in the area.

Other relics indicate the spread of checkpoints all along the island's north coast.

Rushdi also said that rock carved tombs were unearthed in the island's southern area.

"The relics confirm that Mariout island was once a prosperous urban and industrial center in Pharaonic, Greek and Roman times," said Rushdi.

The island linked the Delta provinces to the northwest coast, and Mediterranean countries to southern Europe.

The Supreme Council for Antiquities (SCA) is undertaking studies and excavations at the unique site.

The find, the latest in a lower governorate region, is arousing the interest of Egyptian and foreign excavation teams who are being encouraged to excavate the 333 Feddan area.

Mariout island was known before the establishment of Alexandria and it was mentioned in the writings of the Greek historian Herodotus when he visited the north coast.

Historically, this part of Egypt was an agricultural land irrigated by Nile water via an old tributary, which has since decayed. Egyptian princes prior to Alexander the Great's invasion of Egypt ruled this northern province.