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The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities unveiled on Sunday one of the rarest archaeological discoveries in the history of the Arabian Gulf: a ceramic mask made of faience, dating back about 3,300 years.
The mask was found in a mass grave containing two women from the Dilmun civilization in Al-Hillah, southern Bahrain.
According to the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, the mask is considered one of the rarest archaeological finds in the Kingdom of Bahrain, as it represents only the second known example of its kind discovered to date.
The discovery was announced by archaeologist Mashael al-Shamsi during her participation in the symposium “Archaeology of the Arabian Gulf: Between Discovery and Preservation,” organized by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.
Shamsi noted that the mask still requires in-depth study, as it is among the rare pieces that have not received sufficient research. She added that work is underway to publish a specialized scientific study examining the mask and other associated finds, such as beads and accompanying funerary artifacts.
Shamsi added that the current excavations are focusing on soil layers dating to the Middle Dilmun period, as the team continues efforts to produce a comprehensive study shedding light on the details of these discoveries and their significance in understanding the cultural context of that era.
Other finds included rings made from marine shells, two sewing needles, a perforating tool, and a traditional applicator for kohl, all recovered through meticulous soil sieving at the same site.
It is worth noting that the Al-Hillah site was named after the village of “Hillat Al-Abd Al-Salih” and is considered one of the key locations for understanding the stages of development of the ancient Dilmun civilization, regarded as one of the most prominent civilizations in the history of the Arabian Gulf.
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