The 2021 excavation season at Šams al-Din (Kharga Oasis)

This paper presents the preliminary report of the first season of work conducted by the joint Egyptian-Norwegian mission at the site of Šams al-Dīn, ancient Mounēsis, in the south of Kharga Oasis. This site is unique in that the settlement appears to exist in its entirety, making it one of the few extant late antique villages in Egypt. In addition, it is home to both a church and a temple, offering a unique chance to archaeologically examine the transition from traditional religious practices to Christianity. Differing from the limited scope of interest of the 1976 season, the 2021 season was intended to provide a holistic overview of the entire settlement. In addition to the re-examination of the already-excavated church – the construction of which can be situated in the fourth century –, the Late Roman temple was partially excavated, as were several areas within and surrounding the church complex, topographic analysis was conducted, photography was done for the creation of several 3D models, and samples were retrieved for both radiocarbon and archaeobotanical analysis. This is the first detailed publication dedicated to the site and is thus long overdue.