Bahrain - Dilmun Burial Mounds

"The Dilmun Burial Mounds, built between 2050 and 1750 BCE, span over 21 archaeological sites in the western part of the island. Six of these sites are burial mound fields consisting of a few dozen to several thousand tumuli. In all there are about 11,774 burial mounds, originally in the form of cylindrical low towers. The other 15 sites include 17 royal mounds, constructed as two-storeyed sepulchral towers. The burial mounds are evidence of the Early Dilmun civilization, around the 2nd millennium BCE, during which Bahrain became a trade hub, whose prosperity enabled the inhabitants to develop an elaborate burial tradition applicable to the entire population. These tombs illustrate globally unique characteristics, not only in terms of their number, density and scale, but also in terms of details such as burial chambers equipped with alcoves."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Dilmun Burial Mounds of Bahrain is an insribed UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thanks so much to Jean-Pierre of France. Received on June 15, 2022.

Bahrain - Qal’at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbour and Capital of Dilmun

"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." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
The Portuguese Fort of Bahrain or Qal`at al-Burtughal with old cannon guns, overlooking Manama is built on top of a high mound of successive civilizations when Dilmun was the capital and since the Sumerian period. Nice sail boat stamp used. Thanks to Polaris of Bahrain.

Postcard 2

An impressive Portuguese Fort in Bahrain. Thanks to Jean-Pierre of France who visited Bahrain.

Postcard 3

16th century hallway into Qal at al-Bahrain or Portuguese Fort built at the former capital of Dilmun civilization of Bahrain. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Thanks to Van of USA who mailed from Bahrain. It is a milestone postcard as it is my 20th postcard written stamped from Bahrain.

Bahrain - Pearling, testimony of an island economy

"Pearling, testimony of an island economy (Bahrain), consists of 17 buildings in Murharraq city, three offshore oyster beds, part of the seashore and the Qal’at Bu Mahir fortress on the southern tip of Muharraq Island, from where boats used to set off for the oyster beds. The buildings listed include residences of wealthy merchants, shops, storehouses and a mosque. The site is the last remaining complete example of the cultural tradition of pearling and the wealth it generated at a time when the trade dominated the Gulf economy (2nd century to the 1930s when Japan developed cultured pearls). It also constitutes an outstanding example of traditional utilization of the sea’s resources and human interaction with the environment, which shaped both the economy and cultural identity of the island’s society.
The list includes
- Hayr Bū-l-Thāmah - Hayr Bū ‘Amāmah - Hayr Shtayyah
- Māhir Seashore - Qal‘at Bū Māhir - Al-Ghūṣ House
- Badr Ghulum House - Al-Jalahma House - Al-Alawi House
- Fakhro House - Murad House - Murad Majlis - Siyadi Shops
- Amārat Yousif A.‘Fakhro - ‘Amārat Ali Rashed Fakhro (I)
- ‘Amārat Ali Rashed Fakhro (II) - Nūkhidhah House
- Siyadi House - Siyadi Majlis - Siyadi Mosque"

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Siyadi Mosque and Siyadi House - the southern view of the beautiful Beyt Al Seyadi - a rich pearling merchant's house in Manama on Muharraq Island, Bahrain. Postmarked in Manama on June 8, 2010 and arrived on June 15, 2010 in Penang. Thanks to Mogusa who just moved to Bahrain.