Qal’at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbour and Capital of Dilmun
Overview
Qal’at al-Bahrain is a typical tell – an artificial mound created by many successive layers of human occupation. The strata of the 300 × 600 m tell testify to continuous human presence from about 2300 BC to the 16th century AD. About 25% of the site has been excavated, revealing structures of different types: residential, public, commercial, religious and military. They testify to the importance of the site, a trading port, over the centuries. On the top of the 12 m mound there is the impressive Portuguese fort, which gave the whole site its name, qal’a (fort). The site was the capital of the Dilmun, one of the most important ancient civilizations of the region. It contains the richest remains inventoried of this civilization, which was hitherto only known from written Sumerian references.
About Qal’at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbour and Capital of Dilmun
The Qal'at al-Bahrain, also known as the Bahrain Fort or Portuguese Fort, is an archaeological site located in Bahrain. Archaeological excavations carried out since 1954 have unearthed antiquities from an artificial mound of 12 m (39 ft) height containing seven stratified layers, created by various occupants from 2300 BC up to the 18th century, including Kassites, Greeks, Portuguese and Persians, making it the oldest fortification in the Persian Gulf region. It was once the capital of the Dilmun civilization and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.
Read more on WikipediaSelection Criteria
(ii)(iii)(iv)
Components(2 locations)
- •Core zone 11192ter-001
- •Core zone 21192ter-002
Details
- Countries
- Bahrain
- ISO Codes
- BH
- Area
- 70.4 ha
- Coordinates
- 26.2331, 50.5272
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Qal’at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbour and Capital of Dilmun
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Qal’at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbour and Capital of Dilmun
Getting Here
Qal’at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbour and Capital of Dilmun