Archaeologists have discovered a residential area in Luxor dating to the time when the Roman Empire ruled Egypt.

A team of archaeologists from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities found a number of residential buildings, along with workshops and pigeon towers (where pigeons could be raised for eating), according to a ministry statement(opens in new tab), which noted that this is the “first complete residential city” from the Roman Empire era found in east Luxor. A variety of artifacts were also uncovered, including pottery, bells, grinding tools (often used for food preparation), and Roman coins made of copper and bronze.

Some of the artifacts — including pottery, bells and Roman coins — found during excavation of the residential area. (Image credit: Courtesy of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)

The residential area is close to Luxor Temple, a large religious center built during the reigns of several pharaohs before the Roman Empire, including Amenhotep III, Ramesses II, and Tutankhamun. But the residential area dates to much later, during the second and third centuries A.D. During this time, Egypt was a Roman province and Roman emperors were sometimes depicted as pharaohs.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)

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