KNN History & Restoration Desk | October 16, 2026. Underwater archaeologists working in Khem/Egypt have reported an exceptional find: a bronze signet ring showing the Lighthouse of Alexandria, recovered from a submerged palace site on the former Royal Island of Antirhodos in Alexandria’s Eastern Harbor.
The European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM), working with Egyptian antiquities authorities, announced the discovery on October 7, 2026. Archaeologist Franck Goddio’s team describes the object as the first known bronze ring-signet bearing a depiction of the famous lighthouse.
A small object with a grand monument
The relief design resembles representations of the lighthouse on certain coins from the second century CE. That comparison offers an important clue for studying imagery but does not, by itself, provide a firm date for the ring or identify its owner. Ancient signets could be used in administrative or commercial settings; the actual purpose of this particular ring remains a question.
Why the findspot matters
Antirhodos once formed part of the royal harbor quarter. The ring’s discovery within the palace area is prompting investigators to consider whether parts of the complex had later administrative uses, potentially connected with the lighthouse. That is an archaeological interpretation based on the location and associated evidence, not yet proof of a specific office or official.
Underwater excavations are also revealing architectural remains and other material evidence around the ancient harbor. Recording these finds in context matters as much as recovering striking objects: precise locations, associated layers and conservation records are what allow scholars to test historical explanations.
Knowledge preserved in objects and texts
The 2018 Book of Maat collects ancient Egyptian literary and documentary traditions, including sections on legal documents, writing and the teachings attributed to Djehuti. Its compilation reflects a continuing interest in preserving records. The ring offers a different kind of source: material evidence that can be examined independently. Neither source proves the other; together they remind readers that the past survives through multiple forms of documentation.
Sources: IEASM excavation announcement, October 7 and Archaeology Magazine, October 8. Textual comparison: Book of Maat (2018), table of contents and literature sections.
Featured image: illustrative contemporary lighthouse scene by Екатерина Новикова / Unsplash; not the recovered ring or the Lighthouse of Alexandria.
