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A group of architecture researchers are reconstructing Dilmun-era furniture based on seals excavated across various sites in Bahrain.
UAE-based University of Science and Technology of Fujairah academic Platon Alexiou, as well as Ajman University professors Gamal Elsamanoudy and Naglaa Sami Abdelaziz Mahmoud, recently published an academic paper titled: ‘The Lost Ancient Dilmun Furniture: An Archaeological Experiment in Visualisation and Reconstruction’, in which they documented their efforts.
The paper was published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Arabian Studies.
“The Dilmun civilisation, circa 3000-324 BCE, left little evidence of its existence, among them seals, which reveal social and ritual scenes,” researchers wrote in the abstract of the study.
“The seals found in the two main centers of civilisation, Bahrain and Failaka Island (now part of Kuwait), were designed and used by merchants who wanted to stamp their products.
“Various manufactured items such as pots, shrines, cages, and furniture are depicted.
“The furniture shown on seals includes only stools, chairs, thrones, and tables, and there are no surviving reliefs, painted pottery, burial models, coins, wall paintings, or other artifacts to provide further evidence. This article examines the lost Dilmun furniture through a detailed study of the seals and attempts their visualisation and reconstruction.”
The researchers used inscriptions on Dilmun seals to develop a visualisation of the furniture, but had a few challenges.
On the seals, Dilmun furniture is limited to a side view and a three-quarter view, however they needed a front view, a side view and a plan.
The front view and plan has to be developed based on a study of the furniture of nearby civilisations, especially ancient Egypt, from which actual pieces of furniture have been found.
“Regarding the dimensions of Dilmun furniture in this study, the dimensions of Egyptian and Greek furniture, real-life statues and reliefs were adopted,” researchers added.
Seats depicted on Dilmun seals included thrones and chairs with back and footstools in front of them, indicating that the users were deities, kings, high officials, or upper-class citizens.
Another example of the design based on the seals found in Saar
Only one seal from Saar shows a throne with a backrest in a threequarters view, which provided much of the information for accurate visualisation.
Recurring through many of the seats was the presence of ladder-style horizontal rails which added structural strength to each of them.
Illustrating the process of developing the prototypes, starting with a drawing of a seal from Karranah, Bahrain, circa 2000-1600 BCE (a); design of a ‘ladder’ type throne with tall backrest (b); backrest decoration (c); AutoCAD scale drawings 1:10 (d) ; fabrication of 3D model in a 3D printer in scale 1:10 (e); undercoat spray-on 3D models (f); 3D models painted with oil colours to imitate wood (g), and; front, side, and three-quarter view of the model (h, i, and j)
Most of the ‘reconstructed’ furniture was created digitally, with AutoCAD designs providing a three-dimensional perspective on seats, thrones, chairs and tables of the time. However, researchers also reconstructed one of the thrones at a full-size scale in physical form, with a unique backrest ending in a horned animal’s head.
Using wood, the team was able to fabricate the throne for research purposes, using evidence from nearby civilisations to create period-accurate decorations.
Various stages of the throne fabrication in physical 1:1 scale
Interestingly, no trace of beds or storage furniture was identified on Dilmun seals, such as trunks, chests, jewellery boxes, or shelves.
“The absence of certain types of furniture, such as beds, on these seals raises pertinent questions about Dilmun’s domestic habits and preferences,” researchers explained. “While it is tempting to speculate about sleeping arrangements or dining habits, the lack of evidence reminds us of the caution required in archaeological interpretations.
“The gaps in our knowledge of Dilmun’s daily life are as telling as the artifacts. They testify to the vastness and complexity of ancient civilisations, where not everything has been documented or survived the ravages of time.”
However, the seals and the furniture do indicate that the Dilmun civilisation in Bahrain played a pivotal role in trade and commerce during 3,000 BCE. The diverse items, ranging from architectural depictions to artwork, suggest that Dilmun citizens were consumers and innovators contributing to the broader cultural zeitgeist of the ancient Near East world.
Tangible evidence of flintstone tools, weapons, cuneiform tablets and unique artifacts like the copper bull’s head provides a glimpse into the civilisation’s technological prowess and aesthetic sensibilities.
“These findings can shape the approach of modern archaeologists and designers to ancient artifacts,” the team added. “They exemplify the interconnectedness of cultures, even in antiquity, and the importance of trade as a driver of cultural exchange.”
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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