Major Archaeological Discoveries Across Italy and Egypt in 2026
In early 2026, remarkable archaeological finds emerged from Italy and Egypt. Drone surveys in Fioccaglia di Flumeri, overseen by Professor Giuseppe Ceraudo, identified the Roman site of Forum Aemilii, which includes a forum and an unidentified theater. Meanwhile, excavations in Rome, led by Diletta Menghinello, unearthed a portion of the Ostiense Necropolis featuring five funerary structures from the imperial period. Preventive digs in Pietralata revealed a sanctuary likely dedicated to Hercules along with two aristocratic tombs. Additionally, a 4th-century episcopal hall was found at Ostia Antica. In Egypt, a collaborative effort at Mit Rahina uncovered a temple belonging to Pharaoh Apries, while prehistoric graffiti were discovered in southern Sinai. In France, a domus with mosaics and underfloor heating was excavated near Auch.
Key facts
- Drone surveys at Fioccaglia di Flumeri revealed the forum and theater of the lost Roman settlement Forum Aemilii.
- The research team was led by Professor Giuseppe Ceraudo of the University of Salento.
- Excavations near San Paolo Fuori le Mura uncovered five imperial-era funerary buildings in the Ostiense Necropolis.
- The Ostiense dig was directed by Diletta Menghinello of the Soprintendenza Speciale di Roma.
- A sanctuary possibly dedicated to Hercules was found in Parco delle Acacie, Pietralata, Rome.
- A 4th-century monumental hall with mosaics and marble was discovered at Ostia Antica.
- An Egyptian-Chinese mission found the temple of Pharaoh Apries at Mit Rahina, Memphis.
- Prehistoric graffiti from nearly 10,000 years ago were found on the Umm Arak plateau in Sinai.
Entities
Institutions
- University of Salento
- Soprintendenza Archeologia e Belle Arti per le province di Salerno e Avellino
- Comune di Flumeri
- Soprintendenza Speciale di Roma
- Parco Archeologico di Ostia Antica
Locations
- Fioccaglia di Flumeri
- Avellino
- Italy
- Rome
- Basilica of San Paolo Fuori le Mura
- Ostiense Necropolis
- Parco delle Acacie
- Pietralata
- Ostia Antica
- Mit Rahina
- Memphis
- Giza
- Egypt
- Sinai
- Umm Arak
- Auch
- Augusta Auscorum
- France
- Uzès
- Avignon