PEOPLE who lived in Bahrain more than 2,000 years ago had no need for face masks or social distancing protocols as it appeared they were hard-working and virus-free, according to French archaeologists.
The team that unearthed bones and relics from an historic site in Abu Saiba found no evidence of epidemics in the human remains.
“There had been no evidence of epidemics, like smallpox, found in the bones we have so far recovered from this site,” French Archaeological Mission member Dr Bérénice Chamel told the GDN.
The more civilised humans became, building towns and forging trade routes, the more likely pandemics became from illnesses such as malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, influenza or smallpox. However, it appears that inhabitants in this part of early Bahrain escaped the worst of the ravages.
Dr Chamel said fascinating facts can be learnt about the past from the studies. “Although no signs of contagion were found, the ailments that affected the bones were caused by tough manual jobs,” she said.
“Arthritis in the spine and joints, as well as bone lesions, were the most common. Despite that, we have not found any fractured bones yet.”
Now in its sixth continuous year excavating the mini-necropolis, the French team dug out various ‘remarkable’ artefacts.
These include a child’s toy made of ivory, a six-sided die, natural Bahraini pearls, a terracotta figurine and glazed pottery, all belonging to the Middle Tylos Period.
Dr Julien Cuny, mission leader and Near Eastern Antiquities curator at the Louvre Museum, Paris, said that the museum will showcase artefacts from the Abu Saiba site.
“The Louvre Museum will exhibit 70 artefacts in a special room dedicated to Bahrain starting in early October,” he added.
“Three of the objects that will be displayed in Paris were found here, as part of a selection that represents all civilisations on the island.
“But we are not just looking for objects,” Dr Cuny said. “All finds tell us about Bahrain’s place in the world two millennia ago, and provide insight into what life was like then.
“For example, the jewellery unearthed was made of materials that cannot be found in Bahrain. The agate and carnelian that the beads were made of was imported from India, further proving Tylos’s control over the trade route at the time.”
To demystify Bahrain’s archaeological heritage, the French archaeologists were accompanied by Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) Museums and Antiquities director Dr Salman Al Mahari at an open event.
Locals of all ages flocked to the site to see the treasures for themselves, all equally keen to learn about their village’s ancient history. The scientists answered the questions of all present, from children to pensioners.
Dr Chamel was asked whether the DNA of the remains found was ever sequenced, but she said that attempts were futile as the collagen in the bones had not been preserved.
Likewise, an elderly Abu Saiba resident asked if the cemetery was organised in a special manner and if graves were dug in a particular direction or orientation, like modern burials facing Mecca or Jerusalem.
“Although Dilmunian graves were oriented to the east, Tylos burials follow no cardinal direction and revolve around the main grave in the middle of the cemetery,” said Dr Cuny.
He added that the team might have located this central grave, which usually belongs to a leader. “We have not observed a gender or age segregation in the cemetery,” added Dr Chamel, whose job is not only to analyse bones but to also uncover and make sense of demographic information.
“So far, we have not found the remains of any children aged between four and 15 and none older than 60.”
Some locals were curious about how the archaeologists determine the ages of the objects found. “We use several methods, from radiocarbon dating to comparing it to other finds from the era,” explained Dr Al Mahari.
Out of 93 new graves found, 11 were opened, including a baby’s grave and a deep chambers with plaster finishing containing a full adult skeleton.
“In the beginning, each grave was covered with a small hill of sand, like little domes, which over time combined to become a big hill,” said Dr Al Mahari.
Another attendee wondered whether the homes of these ancient people were found.“The settlements are most likely under your houses,” responded Dr Cuny.
The public gathering took place in the Tylos burial mound nestled between homes in the village of Abu Saiba, as part of ‘Friends of Archaeology’ initiative aiming to involve people who live near Bahrain’s various archaeological sites.
zainab@gdn.com.bh
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