06 February 2019
Japanese Archaeological Expedition’s Wadi al Sail Latest Discoveries Unveiled, During a Lecture at Bahrain National Museum
Bahrain National Museum hosted on 6 February 2019, a lecture presented by Dr. Ikinori Osogi, Member of the Japanese Archaeological Mission, on the latest developments and discoveries made by the Japanese Archaeological Mission. The lecture was attended by H.E Shaikh Khalifa Bin Ahmad Al-Khalifa, Director of Museums’ Directorate at Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities, H.E Hideki Ito, Japanese Ambassador, as well as culture lovers in the Bahrain.
H.E Shaikh Khalifa Bin Ahmad Al-Khalifa lauded the deeply-rooted historical relations between Bahrain and Japan, stressing the importance of cooperation between both countries in archaeological excavations. H.E highlighted the importance of Wadi al Sail archaeological site, which contains a huge number of burial mounds similar to those scattered around Bahrain.
H.E Ambassador Hideki Ito, for his part, expressed his thanks to BACA for organizing this lecture, pointing out that the Japanese Archaeological Mission is working on Wadi al Sail archaeological site since 2015. The Japanese Ambassador voiced his hope that this mission’s work will help further decipher Dilmun Civilization history, praising the unique and rich history and culture of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Dr. Ikinori Osogi showed in his presentation the cross-roads links of ancient Bahraini civilization with other civilizations, such that of India and Mesopotamia. Dr. Ikinori Osogi added that Wadi al Sail archeological site extends to 5.kilmoters long, while the excavations’ works of the Japanese mission does not exceed 800 meters.
Dr. Ikinori Osogi also pointed out during his intervention that mission’s working area includes 270 burial mounds, only 30 graves of them had been excavated by the mission’s members since 2015, whereby they discovered many artifacts and leads dating back to Early Dilmun period. Dr. Osogi went on to explain that these burial mounds, like all other burial mounds, are different in their sizes and composition of their building materials, adding that the archaeological mission has succeeded to unearth a pottery pot, precious stones and other materials used in funerary rituals during Dilmun times.
Worth to mention that Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities organized a field visit tour to Wadi Al-Sail burial mounds, on 1 February 2019, the aim of which was to discover the results of the archaeological excavations of the Japanese team.
