Just across the road from Balat, there's a site containing several ancient mastaba tombs, one of which -- the 6th-dynasty tomb of a local governor -- is open to visitors. The tombs are nothing to look at, but they're certainly historically significant, demonstrating the wealth and importance of the oasis more than 3,000 years ago. Bring your own refreshments; the new building by the ruins that looks like a good place for a cafeteria was locked up at the time of writing and didn't look like it was going to be opened any time soon.