Thousands of 4,000 year-old burial mounds, leftover from the Dilmun civilization, once covered a third of Bahrain's landmass. The mounds were largely intact when this picture was taken in 1956.
Bahrain, burying its heritage? —
Thousands of 4,000 year-old burial mounds, leftover from the Dilmun civilization, once covered a third of Bahrain's landmass. The mounds were largely intact when this picture was taken in 1956.
Courtesy Moesgaard Museum
As Dilmun grew from a tribal society into one of the region's economic powerhouses, the structure of the mounds changed.
Bahrain, burying its heritage? —
As Dilmun grew from a tribal society into one of the region's economic powerhouses, the structure of the mounds changed.
Courtesy Moesgaard Museum
Steffen Laursen, an archeologist studying the mounds at A'ali, says they are an excellent "laboratory".
Bahrain, burying its heritage? —
Steffen Laursen, an archeologist studying the mounds at A'ali, says they are an excellent "laboratory".
Courtesy Moesgaard Museum
Bahrain is a small island, and faces severe housing pressure. In the last few decades, development has nearly swallowed all the mounds. Only 10% of the originals remain.
Bahrain, burying its heritage? —
Bahrain is a small island, and faces severe housing pressure. In the last few decades, development has nearly swallowed all the mounds. Only 10% of the originals remain.
Moesgaard Museum/Karl Hjalte Maack Raun
Robert Killick led excavations of an ancient settlement (circa 1900 BC) on the outskirts of a burial field in Saar. While working, he witnessed the destruction of the mounds near the site.
Bahrain, burying its heritage? —
Robert Killick led excavations of an ancient settlement (circa 1900 BC) on the outskirts of a burial field in Saar. While working, he witnessed the destruction of the mounds near the site.
London-Bahrain Archaeological Expedition/National Museum of Bahrain
Before the mounds are torn down, archeologists excavate and document their findings. It's a practice known as "rescue archeology".
Bahrain, burying its heritage? —
Before the mounds are torn down, archeologists excavate and document their findings. It's a practice known as "rescue archeology".
Moesgaard Museum/Karl Hjalte Maack Raun
Bahrain's Ministry of Culture is now working to achieve UNESCO World Heritage Status for many of the remaining mounds, a move that would ensure their protection in the future.
Bahrain, burying its heritage? —
Bahrain's Ministry of Culture is now working to achieve UNESCO World Heritage Status for many of the remaining mounds, a move that would ensure their protection in the future.
Moesgaard Museum/Karl Hjalte Maack Raun