THE latest discoveries at Bahrain Fort and other historical sites will be presented at an international archaeological conference opening in Bahrain in December.
About 30 internationally renowned speakers from Bahrain, the Gulf and Europe will present 25 research papers at the four-day event, which features lectures, panel discussions and visits to various excavation sites including Bahrain Fort.
Twenty Years of Bahrain Archaeology (1986-2006) is held under the patronage of Crown Prince and BDF Commander-in-Chief Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and sponsored by Arcapita.
It is the first opportunity since the 1983 conference, Bahrain Through the Ages, for international scholars and experts to discuss and explore the most recent developments in the archaeology and history of Bahrain.
It will be attended by international scholars who have spent many years actively excavating and researching in Bahrain and who are widely published.
"It's very probable we will discuss the recent results, especially of Qal'at Al Bahrain," said French archaeology mission to Bahrain director Dr Pierre Lombard, at a Press conference at the Bahrain National Museum yesterday.
"We wanted something different from 1983. This time we only wanted those who had excavated in Bahrain or done field work in the last 20 years.
"There will also be archaeologists from Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia who will present their discoveries which are close to those in Bahrain."
Twenty Years of Bahrain Archaeology (1986-2006) will be hosted by the Culture and National Heritage Sector from December 9 to 12 at the Bahrain National Museum.
It will be conducted in English and Arabic, with translations provided throughout.
The conference is open to the public at a cost of BD200 for international delegates, BD100 for local delegates, BD100 for international students and BD50 for local students.
For more information or to register, visit the official conference website at www.archaeologyconferencebh.com.
Registration
Alternatively, contact the conference committee at archaeologyconference@info.gov.bh or fax 17295316.
The registration for international participants has closed but it is open until November 15 for those in Bahrain.
Dr Lombard announced that a museum showcasing the discoveries at Qal'at Al Bahrain will open at the site on February 18.
It will be the first museum to open at an archaeology site in Bahrain and the second one after the Bahrain National Museum.
"The museum will be devoted to items found at the site," Dr Lombard told the GDN.
The museum is sponsored by Arcapita.
The Bahrain National Museum will also be renovated and there are plans for museums in each historical site in Bahrain.
Dr Lombard said the French archaeology mission to Bahrain stopped excavations in 2004 to work on the museum and conference but hoped to resume work in the next year or two.
In the mean time the mission will publish the discoveries found in Bahrain during 11 seasons of excavations conducted before they stopped.
"We have a duty to continue our work at Qal'at Al Bahrain especially as it is now a World Heritage site," said Dr Lombard, who is also a conference scientific committee official.
The Press conference was also attended by Culture and National Heritage Assistant Under-Secretary Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, archaeology department head and conference scientific committee official Khalid Al Sindi and senior cultural programmes specialist Melissa Enders Bhatia.
