Egypt’s “lost city of gold” has been fully excavated after four years of painstaking work, archaeologists have announced.
The 3,000-year-old gold-mining complex at Jabal Sukari, southwest of Marsa Alam in Egypt’s Red Sea Governorate, was discovered in 2021.
Experts have successfully restored the ancient industrial hub that dates back to 1000 BC.
The site has been dubbed one of the most significant archaeological finds in recent years, offering a rare glimpse into ancient Egyptian gold extraction techniques.
The site at Aten dates back to around 1000 BC
Dr Zahi Hawass/Facebook
The complex was once a bustling centre during the ancient Egyptian empire.
The site was first announced by Egyptologist Dr Zahi Hawass in April 2021, who described it as the largest ancient city ever uncovered in Egypt.
Professor Betsy Brian from Johns Hopkins University called it “the second most important archaeological discovery since the tomb of Tutankhamun”.
The industrial complex played a crucial role in gold mining and processing during ancient times.
MORE EGYPTIAN DISCOVERIES:
Professor Betsy Brian called it ‘the second most important archaeological discovery since the tomb of Tutankhamun’
Dr Zahi Hawass/Facebook
Researchers found the site dates back to when Amenhotep III ruled Egypt from 1391 to 1353 BC, one of the country’s most powerful pharaohs.
Within weeks of excavation, formations of mud bricks appeared “in all directions,” revealing a well-preserved ancient city.
Excavations at the site uncovered the remains of an elaborate industrial complex designed to extract gold from quartz veins.
The facility featured grinding and crushing stations, filtration basins, and clay furnaces used for smelting gold.
Archaeologists also discovered buildings, religious temples and bath houses throughout the settlement.
The complex structure included workshops, administrative buildings, temples, and residential quarters.
Archaeological evidence found at the site found at Aten
Dr Zahi Hawass/Facebook
This suggests that mining was a highly organised and state-regulated industry in ancient Egypt.
The scale of operations at the complex indicates it played a crucial part in the gold trade of ancient Egypt.
Archaeologists unearthed 628 inscribed ostraca—fragments of pottery and stone bearing inscriptions in hieroglyphic, demotic, and Greek scripts.
These rare artefacts provide key insights into the day-to-day operations and administration of the site.
They also reveal details about the lives of workers and officers employed at the complex.
The discovery of Greek scripts suggests the ancient city was multicultural, reflecting the diversity of its inhabitants.
Ancient coins dating to the Ptolemaic Period were also discovered, indicating the site remained active long after initial mining operations.
Human and animal terracotta figurines from the Greco-Roman Period were found during excavation.
Dr Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, highlighted the sophisticated methods used by ancient Egyptians.
“The existence of grinding and filtration stations indicates that ancient Egyptians had mastered the process of separating gold from quartz,” he said.
The discovery of clay furnaces confirms the site was a fully operational processing facility, not just a mining outpost.
Dr Khaled noted that the complex settlement structure suggests mining was a highly organised industry.
The remains of an ancient city in the desert outside Luxor which archaeologists say is the ‘largest’ ever found in Egypt and dates back to a golden age of the pharaohs 3,000 years ago
GETTY
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, said the discovery showcases the engineering expertise of ancient Egyptian miners.
As part of the “Reviving the Ancient City of Gold” project, the archaeological elements were relocated to a secure area.
The new site is situated three kilometres north of the original location.
This relocation was necessary to move the findings outside the active modern mining zone at Sukari Mine.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities confirmed the project was completed in collaboration with the Sukari Mine administration.
All necessary legal and administrative procedures were followed.
The Supreme Council of Antiquities secured approval from the Permanent Committee for Egyptian Antiquities before proceeding with the relocation.
Extensive documentation and restoration efforts were carried out to preserve the architectural elements.
The ‘lost city of gold’ has now been transformed into a major tourist attraction.
The Egyptian government has established a visitor site at the new location.
Large display screens have been installed to showcase the excavation process and discoveries.
These screens offer visitors a detailed look at the scientific methods employed in uncovering the site’s secrets.
Officials have confirmed the site is now open to researchers and the general public.
The project highlights Egypt’s commitment to preserving its rich heritage while aligning with modern economic development initiatives.