Archaeologists and their students will be descending on the kingdom in mass over the next few months in a bid to unearth even more hidden historical treasures buried beneath the sandy soil.
Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) archaeology and museums director Dr Salman Al Mahari said numerous expeditions from all over the world were scheduled to converge on Bahrain.
“There is huge interest globally in what Bahrain has to offer historically,” he said.
The long-established Danish expedition is set to return for a new excavation season around Bahrain Fort, which received World Heritage Status in 2005.
A British expedition was set to continue excavations for Christian artefacts in Samaheej following earlier successes there and two Japanese expeditions at the Dilmun Burial Mounds in Wadi Al Sail and Tylos Settlement in Maqabah have set their sights on prehistoric discoveries.
The Dilmun Burial Mounds, which are 4,000 years old, stretch more than 20 kilometres across Bahrain and cover 21 sites in Hamad Town, including Buri, Karzakan and Dar Kulaib. Burial mounds in Janabiya and the eastern and western part of A’ali were approved by the authorities as a third site of interest in 2019.
“Bahrain’s sites are significant to the ‘World Heritage Network’ and we have expeditions from Denmark, the UK and Japan set to work, or continue with excavations this year,” Dr Al Mahari added.
“There are other interested nations too, each with a connection to Bahrain either through trade, educational or cultural links.
“I honestly believe that what has been uncovered to date is just a minimal example of the many hidden treasures yet to be discovered.”
He believes more historic coin currencies and utensils with relevance to other parts of the ‘old world’ will be uncovered in the near future.
“We are also working with the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry on Islamic irrigation channels in Hamad Town,” said Dr Al Mahari. “There are extensive studies on how to protect and revitalise old natural springs (Oyoon), which already come under the National Heritage List, in the western and northern parts of the country.
“It is true that some historic sites are unknown even to locals which is exciting news for the nation’s children who will soon become our biggest heritage ambassadors and gain untold knowledge about their country’s history.”
He added that plans for a special Dilmun Burial Mounds Museum were progressing with various sites under consideration for its location. “The museum is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) requirement and we are working with all relevant authorities to make it a reality,” he added.
Meanwhile, Councillor Tariq Al Farasani, who took part in a Northern Municipal Council tour of historic sites, said there were many local initiatives aimed at beautifying them.
“We have Bahrainis and expats planting trees in many sites and this is evident with the Saar Settlement, an initiative that I am helping to spearhead,” he said.
He hopes that walkways, recreational facilities and other family attractions will be incorporated with care to make the areas popular with local families and visitors alike, similar to what has been achieved at Bahrain Fort.
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