Archaeologists find Ancient Egypt’s ‘lost golden city’ dating back 3,000 years

Archaeologists have finally completed their revival of a 3,000-year-old Ancient Egyptian landmark known as the 'lost city of gold'.

Found by Egyptologists in 2021, the discovery was hailed after being found by experts examining the area.

Dating back to roughly 1,000 BC, the complex is an old mining facility. And in the time since then, work has taken place through Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, represented by the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

The project, dubbed 'Reviving the Ancient City of Gold' project at Jabal Sukari, lies southwest of Marsa Alam in the Red Sea Governorate on Egypt's east coast.

The 'city of gold' mining complex in Ancient Egypt (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)

"As part of the project, extensive archaeological excavations, documentation, and restoration efforts were carried out to preserve the architectural elements uncovered at the site," the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said.

"These elements were then relocated to a secure area three kilometres north of the original location, outside the active modern mining zone at Sukari Mine."

Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, said the discoveries emphasised that the project aligns with the department's 'commitment to preserving Egypt’s rich heritage while supporting national development and economic initiatives'.

Part of the site after being excavated (Getty Stock Images)

Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said: "Excavations revealed the remains of a 3,000-year-old gold processing complex, including a fully equipped facility for extracting gold from quartz veins.

"The site contained grinding and crushing stations, filtration and sedimentation basins, and ancient clay furnaces used for smelting gold.

"In addition, archaeologists uncovered the residential district of the gold miners, which included houses, workshops, temples, administrative buildings, and Ptolemaic Period bathhouses. Architectural remains from the Roman and Islamic Periods were also identified, further highlighting the site’s historical significance."

Part of the uncovered mining complex (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)

The site found 628 broken pieces of pottery and stone, known as ostraca, inscribed in hieroglyphic, demotic, and Greek scripts, as well as a collection of Ptolemaic bronze coins.

Other notable discoveries included a large number of terracotta figurines depicting human and animal forms from the Greco-Roman Period.

There was also an assortment of beads made from semi-precious stones, along with decorative items crafted from seashells.

Dr. Khaled emphasised the significance of this project in deepening understanding of the mining techniques used by the ancient Egyptians to extract gold from rock.

One of the ostracas found at the site (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)

The discoveries also provide valuable insights into the social, religious, and economic lives of gold miners in industrial desert settlements throughout history.

The ancient mining complex has now been brought back to life through a new visitor centre featuring large display screens showcasing the excavation process and findings; exhibits of discovered artefacts, including statues, pottery, and mining tools; and informational panels detailing the historical significance of the region.