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An elusive ornamented pottery head, referred to as a faience mask, was found in a collective grave of two Dilmunian women and an infant, dating back 3,300 years.
The findings from the Hilla Site, named after the village of Hillat Abdul Saleh, were revealed at an archaeology conference held by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca).
Baca archaeologist Mashaal Al Shamsi, who showcased the discoveries, is currently in charge of ongoing excavations in Hilla, particularly of ancient soil layers belonging to the Middle Dilmun period.
The mysterious ceramic head
Not much is known about the rare faience mask, a ceramic statue of a head that was buried with the dead, as it is only the second of its kind to be excavated in Bahrain.
“Further research needs to be conducted into the faience face – it’s one of these objects that haven’t been highly researched, especially in Bahrain,” Ms Al Shamsi said.
“There’s only one paper that mentions it, but we’re currently working on a publication about the beads and the mask.”
Other finds include two rings made of seashells, a sewing needle or an awl, a large vase, a ring made of seashells and kohl applicators recovered through the sifting of sand on the site.
A glazed ceramic faience mask
Thousands of beads were spotted around the site, made from pearl, agate, lapis lazuli, marble, stone, quartz and even ostrich eggs.
Meanwhile, a collective grave contained the remains of two women with an infant placed on the lap of one of the skeletons, surrounded by number of offerings known as grave goods.
According to Ms Al Shamsi, the three bodies were not buried at the same time, as there is evidence that time passed between the placement of the Dilmunian individuals, like rainfall in the soil.
“It appears that there was a disturbance between burials at some point, because the woman and infant’s bones were in a bad state.
“We cannot confirm whether or not they are mother and child. In my opinion, the infant could be related to one or both of the adults, but it’s not something that can be confirmed within the archaeological record.”
The ancient kohl applicator
Ms Al Shamsi’s find of the season was a stick used to apply kohl, or eyeliner, since it made her find common ground with the woman who used it thousands of years ago, she told the GDN.
“My favourite discovery is the kohl applicator – with the kohl still on it!” she said. “I feel this connection between myself and the woman that used it, although we lived almost 3,330-to-3,400-year apart.
“I, as a woman, feel close to her because wearing eyeliner is something I do. She was doing something we still do regularly almost every day!”
A drawing imagining how a woman would have applied eye makeup in Mesopotamian antiquity
Much more work is to be carried out at the Hilla Site, which is a treasure trove of history located approximately 250 metres from Bahrain Fort. Excavations are expected to continue until February.
Archaeologists have dug trenches close to others they opened last season to try to learn more about the layers of the site.
“This season’s goals are to conduct further research into funerary practices and to investigate the skeletons more,” Ms Al Shamsi said.
The conference, in which the discoveries were announced, ended yesterday. It was attended by curious members of the public alongside specialists.
The seminar, titled ‘GCC Archaeological Heritage: Between Discovery and Preservation’, highlighted the shared cultural legacy of the Arabian Gulf.
In 2024, Baca held an activity named the ‘Ancient Pottery Quest’, in which volunteers helped experts survey the Hilla Site by hunting for pottery shards, beads and glass artefacts on the surface of the soil.
Participants were supplied with bags to gather the relics and were able to witness archaeologists’ first-hand as they cleaned, sorted and identified the pieces.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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