21 November 2018
BACA’s Book Launch, “The Islamic Funerary Inscriptions of Bahrain”
The Bahrain National Museum hosted, Wednesday 21 November, a book launch of ceremony “The Islamic Funerary Inscriptions of Bahrain” at the Hall of Tylos and Islam, with the presence of H.E Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Director of Museums Directorate at the Authority, the book authors: Professor Timothy Insoll, Dr. Salman Al-Mahari and Dr. Rachel Maclean, along with a number of people interested in heritage and cultural affairs in the Kingdom.
The book is part of Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities’ efforts to document the results of excavations’ field works undertaken at Bahrain’s archaeological sites. H.E Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa lauded the efforts of the authors in writing this book about Islamic funerary inscriptions in Bahrain, pointing out to the importance of such valuable documentation of a crucial era of Bahrain’s history.
Professor Timothy Insoll expressed his thanks and gratitude to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, for his noble and generous support to carry out this book project. Dr. Insoll also extended his thanks to H.E Mai Bint Mohammad Al-Khalifa, President of Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities, for the encouragement, support and facilitating their mission. Dr. Insoll added that the authors present a study of the funerary inscriptions based upon fieldwork completed in Bahrain between 2013-2015, arguing that the project included exceptional historical discoveries. Dr. Insoll urged everyone for the necessity of protecting documented Islamic gravestones, pointing out that that work team had presented already a protection and management plan to the Culture Authority.
Dr. Rachel Maclean, for her part, thanked all those who have contributed to the successful publication of this important book and sponsored the archaeological excavations, adding that the future field works with regard to Islamic artifacts will continue.
Dr. Salman Al-Mahari, said that The Islamic Funerary Inscriptions of Bahrain, Pre-1317 AH/1900 AD, is basically a comprehensive illustrated catalogue of 150 gravestones in 26 locations is provided with transcription of the inscriptions into modern Arabic and translation into English. These sites, shrines, mosques and gravestones date back to 700 years, between 5th -12th century (hijri calendar), were documented, Dr. Al Mahari added.
Dr. Al-Mahari added also that researchers are invited to study the subjects considered In this book, including: the history of Islamic burial, gravestone, and cemetery research on Bahrain, gravestone chronology, gravestone and cemetery types, stone sources and gravestone manufacture, the gravestone inscriptions, content, iconography and decoration, Arabic poetry, personalities and religious leaders, names of regions in Bahrain, as well as social-economic issues. Al-Mahari also said that gravestones are made by Bahraini pottery craftsmen, with names inscribed and made of pure gypsum Bahraini stones.
Worth to mention that Timothy Insoll Ph.D. (1996), Cambridge University, is Al-Qasimi Professor of African and Islamic Archaeology in the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter. He has published extensively on African and Islamic archaeology, including Material Explorations in African Archaeology (OUP, 2015), and has current field projects in Bahrain and Ethiopia. Salman Almahari, Ph.D. (2013), Cairo University is Head of the Archaeological Conservation Department at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities. He has published two books, Archaeological Sites in Bahrain: Threats & Challenges, Conservation and Management (Arab Institute for Research and Publishing, 2009), and Conservation of Historic Buildings, Buildings from Muharraq in Bahrain (ICCROM, 2018). Rachel MacLean, Ph.D. (1996), Cambridge University, is an independent researcher who has co-directed projects in northern Ghana and Bahrain and directed projects in Uganda. She co-authored the Archaeological Guide to Bahrain (Archaeopress, 2011), and Temporalising Anthropology, Archaeology in the Talensi Tong Hills (Africa Magna Verlag, 2013).
