MANAMA, 19 August 2004 — A joint Gulf team will excavate for ancient relics in the Subaiya region north of Kuwait city beginning next month, according to Khaled Al-Sendy, head of the relics and heritage department of the Bahraini Information Ministry.
The team will begin excavating Subaiya mounds for two months and will conduct field studies in that area, he said. Cooperation in the past between Kuwaiti and other GCC teams included excavation on the Failaka island.
Al-Sendy noted that Failaka and Bahrain were home for the Dilmun civilization which dates back to 3000 B.C. Many archaeological remains, such as flint tools, weapons and potteries, discovered during the excavation confirmed this.
Kuwait and Bahrain share the same historical civilization of the Dilmun age and with cooperation, more will be revealed to pinpoint the special ancient bonds between the two countries, said Al-Sendy.
He added that the planned cooperation between the two countries would coincide with the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the Dilmun civilization on Failaka and in Bahrain.
Dilmun relics were discovered in many parts of Bahrain such as Al-Mughasha, famous for tombstones dating back to 1000 to 1600 B.C.
The grand rectangular tombstones discovered in that area included many skeletons and personal items lying beside them such as food, spears, cylindrical seals, potteries, items made of talc, marble and jewelry studded with precious stones.
Al-Sendy noted that tombstones had giant stairwells and entrances. The skeletons found there dated back to the Dilmun age as well as to the Tylos, which proves that family tombstones were used during more than one historical period before the Islamic era.
“Dilmuns believed in life after death and that is why they were buried with their personal items near them,” Al-Sendy noted.
Items commonly found in most locations were the cylindrical seals, small stone or bone rollers or stamps, engraved with a reverse pattern.
