Around 30 archaeology enthusiasts yesterday flocked to a site near the Bahrain Fort in Manama to assist experts in excavating a 500-year-old artefact-rich field.
Held from 9am to noon at the Hilla Site, named after the village of Hillat Abdul Saleh, the annual Ancient Pottery Quest, first held in 2024, was organised by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca).
Participants managed to recover shards of ancient fine china porcelain, countless pieces of pottery, a coin and even fragments of colourful glass bangles.
They were supplied with bags to gather the relics and were able to witness archaeologists at work first-hand as they cleaned, sorted and identified the pieces.
Speaking to the GDN, Baca archaeology researcher Mashaal Alshamsi attributed the success of the event to the interest and passion of the participants.
“Around 30 people from all across Bahrain, including locals and expats, came together today to join us in our survey,” said Ms Alshamsi.
“They walked around the site with us, picking up whatever they found that could be used in our studies.
“The findings are important because even researchers from outside Bahrain could use the artefacts for studies.
“Generally, most of our findings today were from the Islamic Period, with artefacts not just from Bahrain but also from China, especially pottery and pots.”
The event gave people who really care about history and archaeology the opportunity to help experts collect the artefacts, while having fun and learning new things.
The site, which is estimated to date to the Late Islamic Period, is located approximately 250 metres from the Bahrain Fort, and mostly contains ruins of residential buildings from the era.
Participants had the chance to visit a real archaeological site and collect finds in a scientific way, as each team was assigned its own area in which to search.
They refrained from digging into the site to protect the integrity of the soil, and only collected items from the surface.
“We found a lot of more recent artefacts as well,” said Ms Alshamsi.
“Additionally, we discovered a lot of local storage jars, and items that were used in local houses at the time.
“Today, we also managed to find a lot of decorated artefacts and sgraffiato (an ancient artistic technique in which an artist scratches through a surface layer, such as a clay slip or plaster, to reveal a contrasting colour or material beneath).
“There was also a lot of incised pottery (a decorative ceramic technique in which lines, patterns, or figures are carved, scratched, or cut into the clay surface).
“This was all really lovely to look at, especially since many people told us they enjoyed coming out here and assisting us in our endeavours.”
The GDN reported in January that 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, at the Hilla Site.
Ms Alshamsi, who showcased the discoveries, is currently in charge of ongoing excavations in Hilla, particularly those involving ancient soil layers belonging to the Middle Dilmun period.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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