New Architectural Elements Uncovered at Ancient al-Qasr Temple in Bahariya Oasis

Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on June 19, 2026, the discovery of previously unexplored sections of the ancient temple at al-Qasr village in the Bahariya Oasis, part of the Western Desert. The Egyptian archaeological mission working on behalf of the Supreme Council of Antiquities uncovered the temple's main hypostyle hall, featuring 16 sandstone columns along with interconnected chambers and shrines. Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the team found stone blocks bearing the names and titles of King Psamtik I — first pharaoh of the 26th Dynasty (664–610 BCE) — indicating construction began under his reign and continued through later rulers. Excavators also recovered an 18th-Dynasty stele from the reign of Amenhotep II and fragments dating to Ramesses II's 19th-Dynasty reign, showing the site was venerated across multiple eras of Egyptian religious history. Officials said the finds deepen understanding of Bahariya Oasis as a religious and administrative center for centuries and will inform future excavation seasons at the site.