Bahrain's Christian archaeological sites made it a meeting point for civilisations and religions and a positive force of cohesiveness in the region, according to a top official.
The continued discovery of such sites in Eastern Arabia reflected the region’s rich cultural diversity, affirmed Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) president Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.
He was speaking during a two-day seminar on ‘Christian Archaeological Sites in Eastern Arabia: Towards a Shared Heritage’ organised by Baca in co-operation with the King Hamad Global Centre for Coexistence and Tolerance (KHGC) at the Bahrain National Museum.
Present at the event were Baca director-general Dr Salman Al Mahari, KHGC executive director Abdulla Al Mannai, a number of officials and archaeology specialists, academics, researchers, and experts from Bahrain and abroad.
“The discovery stands as a positive force in the region’s historical heritage,” said Shaikh Khalifa.
“These sites shed light on the civilisational richness of Bahrain across the ages, making it a meeting point for civilisations and religions,” he added.
“The Nestorian Christian heritage represents an added value to the cultural diversity of the region.”
The first day of the seminar provided a general historical overview of Nestorian Christian heritage in Eastern Arabia, alongside efforts to preserve related archaeological sites. It featured three key sessions.
The first session addressed the Christian remains discovered in Samaheej, their significance and measures taken to protect them, in addition to a presentation on the site of Al Qusur on Failaka Island in Kuwait, and a summary of recent research and excavation results.
Discussions also included a paper on Christian discoveries at Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, reviewing recent excavation findings and preservation approaches.
This was alongside a research paper called ‘From Late Antiquity to Early Islam: The Pearling Town and Christian Monastery on Siniya Island – Umm Al Quwain’, which examined the settlement and the monastery as one of the most significant recent discoveries in the GCC.
The second session featured a panel discussion on the historical connections between the Arabian Peninsula and wider Christian heritage across regions, with reflections on the distinctiveness of the Arabian context.
In the third session, experts presented papers on the church and monastery of Sir Bani Yas Island and the current state of conservation of the ancient Christian monastery in Umm Al Quwain.
They also discussed strategies to safeguard the historical and architectural value of Failaka Island, and the management and preservation of the Samaheej site.
Three sessions were also held on the second day.
The addressed the global importance of these sites, and the second discussed knowledge gaps and research needs regarding Christian archaeology in the GCC, including two sub-panels on documentation tools and on regional research frameworks.
Finally, the third session focused on a roadmap for regional co-operation in safeguarding heritage, and setting out future steps to strengthen recognition of the historical and cultural significance of Nestorian Christianity in Eastern Arabia.
Attendees were later taken on a field visit to the Samaheej archaeological site, which is believed to be among the oldest Christian structures in the GCC, featuring a collection of early Christian symbols.
The GDN reported yesterday that a British archaeology lover donated a magnetometer to Baca, which will enable archaeologists to take a look into the earth and discover buried structures and objects without digging in the site or disturbing the soil.
The high-tech magnetic survey instrument was donated to Baca by Londoner Dale Buxton, and was presented to the authority by the head of the British Expedition in Bahrain, Dr Timothy Insoll.
According to Dr Al Mahari, the device will soon be deployed in a historical site near Qal’at Al Bahrain.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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