Archaeologists in Egypt’s Kharga Oasis have uncovered a 2,000-year-old settlement revealing a remarkable window into life and faith in the Western Desert. First inhabited in the 3rd century BC and later reused during the early Coptic period (3rd–7th centuries BC), the site reflects a cultural shift from paganism to Christianity. Excavations at the Bagawat necropolis—home to 263 preserved structures behind the Hibis Temple—exposed mud-brick homes, tombs, two churches, wall paintings, storage jars, ovens, pottery and glass shards, stone fragments, and burial spaces, all pointing to a self-sufficient desert community.

One of the churches follows a grand basilica layout, with a central nave, side aisles, square columns, and a spacious hall suggesting a community of influence. The smaller, rectangular church features interior Coptic inscriptions, along with a vivid mural of Jesus healing the sick and dome artwork depicting scenes from the Torah. Thousands of inscriptions in Greek, Latin, Coptic, and Arabic—spanning centuries—highlight the settlement’s long history and spiritual legacy.

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SOURCE: Jerusalem Post