Baca: The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), in collaboration with the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, recently organised an open day at the A’ali West Burial Mounds Field. The event saw participation from Dr. Masashi Abe, Head of the Japanese Mission.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the focus of the event was on the latest findings from the second season of excavations at the A’ali West Burial Mounds Field. This site, which encompasses over 700 burial mounds from the Early Dilmun period, provided insights into the preliminary results and recent discoveries, enhancing the understanding of the region’s historical significance.
A related event was held at the Maqaba Burial Mounds Site, featuring an open meeting in collaboration with the Archaeological Institute of Kashihara in Japan. This session included participation from Dr. Kiyohide Saito, Head of the Japanese Mission, and offered detailed explanations of ancient burial customs in Bahrain, focusing on the Dilmun and Tylos civilisations, which date back more than 4,000 years. The event highlighted the traditions and symbols used during these periods, illustrating the spiritual and cultural richness of ancient societies.
Dr. Salman Ahmed Almahari, Director General of Archaeology at BACA, attended both events, along with several Authority officials and archaeology and heritage enthusiasts. The Japanese archaeological mission in Bahrain, led by institutions such as the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties and the Archaeological Institute of Kashihara, is dedicated to studying and documenting the Dilmun civilisation and subsequent cultures. Their work, centred on sites like the Dilmun burial mounds in Wadi Al Sail, the Maqaba Burial Mounds Site, and the A’ali West Burial Mounds Field, aims to document the archaeological landscape and deepen the understanding of Bahrain’s ancient history.