Publications
Early Dilmun Burial Mounds in Bahrain: the Wâdî al-Sail Archaeological Project and the Dilmun Mapping Project
Archaeological research on Early Dilmun burial mounds in Bahrain, spanning over 100 years, reveals significant insights into the mortuary practices and social organization of a complex society that emerged on the island. Excavations, particularly those led by the Wâdî al-Sail Archaeological Project under Masashi Abe, have shed light on previously poorly understood burial practices from the Early phase of the Early Dilmun period. Additionally, the Dilmun Mapping Project, directed by Akinori Uesugi, focuses on the distribution patterns of these mounds and their role in forming extensive cemeteries. These projects collectively provide crucial clues about the origins of Dilmun, offering a deeper understanding of its social structures and cultural evolution.
From Dilmun to Wādī al‐Fāw: A forgotten desert corridor, c. 2000 BC
A previously unknown desert trade corridor linking the Kingdom of Dilmun on the Arabian Gulf coast with southern Saudi Arabia, likely extending to Yemen, was identified around 2000 BC. Contrary to assumptions about arid conditions in Bronze Age central Arabia, this study reveals a thriving commercial network supported by donkey trains, as evidenced by Dilmun seals, pottery, and unique burial practices at Wādī al‐Fāw. The discovery challenges existing models of cultural transmission across the region, suggesting significant linguistic, ideological, genetic, and technological exchanges during a period marked by unusually arid conditions. The research reconstructs the likely route based on archaeological evidence, including dry mummification mound burials that differ from classic Dilmun burial customs.
Heritage erasure and heritage transformation: how heritage is created by destruction in Bahrain
Heritage erasure can lead to heritage transformation, as demonstrated by the case of Bahrain's Dilmun Burial Mounds. The study reveals that the destruction of these ancient burial sites due to modern development has paradoxically elevated them to significant national heritage status in Bahrain. This finding challenges conventional notions of heritage preservation and highlights the dynamic processes through which heritage is created and redefined. The research employs a comparative approach, analyzing three distinct cases: the Dilmun Burial Mounds, neglected Shia religious shrines, and the destroyed Pearl Monument from the 2011 uprising. These cases illustrate different modes of engaging with the past—preserved history, living heritage, and future-oriented transformation—shedding light on the complex interplay between destruction, identity, and national narrative in Bahrain.
Landscapes of nation: Constructing national identity in the deserts of Bahrain
Bahrain's national identity is increasingly shaped by modern architectural landscapes, diverging from its historical emphasis on burial mounds and pearl monuments. This shift reflects a broader struggle to reconcile grand historical narratives with contemporary urban development, creating a coherent social construct of the nation. The study analyzes how competing idealisms—such as the reconstruction of traditional landscapes versus postmodern urban settlements—define national space in Bahrain's deserts.
Mesopotamian ceramics from the burial mounds of Bahrain, c.2250-1750 BC
A distinct two-phase pattern of Mesopotamian ceramic imports and local emulations, spanning c.2250–1750 BC, has been identified at the Dilmun burial mounds of Bahrain. The first phase, characterized by a specific vessel type exclusive to pre-Dilmun 'state' Early Type mounds, is linked to Mesopotamia's late third-millennium Magan trade network, serving as a key fossil directeur for this period. The second phase, found in compact cemeteries coinciding with Dilmun's peak, reflects the contracted Isin-Larsa network of Dilmun trade. This study reconstructs trade dynamics and political interactions between Mesopotamia and the 'Lower Sea' populations through ceramic distribution analysis.
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