Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities has announced the discovery of a rare archaeological artifact: a ceramic faience mask dating back over 3,300 years. This significant find was uncovered in a collective grave containing the remains of two women from the Dilmun civilization at the Al-Hillah site in southern Bahrain.
Background: Ruins of a settlement, believed to be from the Dilmun civilization, in Sar, Bahrain. Credit: Rapid Travel Chai – CC BY 3.0. The faience mask found in the 3,300-year-old grave. Credit: Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities. Image compilation by AncientPages.com
Archaeologist Mashaal al-Shamsi shared details of this discovery during the “Gulf Archaeology: Discovery and Preservation” symposium, organized with support from the GCC General Secretariat. The mask, crafted from faience—a type of glazed pottery—features a human face and is exceptionally rare; only one other similar artifact has been found in Bahrain to date. Researchers have yet to conduct an in-depth study of this mask, leaving unanswered questions about its exact composition, age, and ceremonial function.
The Al-Hillah site plays an important role in understanding Dilmun’s development as one of the most influential ancient cultures in the Arabian Gulf region. Often referred to as both “the Island of the Gods” and “the Sacred Land” sought by Gilgamesh for immortality, Dilmun’s capital is located atop rolling hills along Bahrain’s Gulf coast. Excavations have revealed layers of historical occupation beneath its sands.
Credit: Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities
According to Salman Ahmad al-Mahari, Director of Antiquities and Museums, Al-Hillah includes a historic coastal fortress, an ancient city buried underground, and structures that were once central to Dilmun’s trade networks. Since excavations began in 1953, about one quarter of the site has been explored; many artifacts—including cuneiform tablets and inscriptions—remain undiscovered.
While researchers are still investigating its purpose, initial theories suggest the faience mask may have been used in spiritual or ceremonial rituals. To gain further insights into its use and significance within Dilmun society, scientists have initiated comprehensive studies on both this artifact and other items recovered from nearby gravesites.
Votive relief of Ur-Nanshe, king of Lagash: one of the inscriptions reads, “Boats from the (distant) land of Dilmun carried the wood (for him),” which is the oldest known written record of Dilmun and the importation of goods into Mesopotamia. Credit: Public Domain
Al-Shamsi noted that academic research on such artifacts is limited; only one scholarly paper briefly mentions similar finds from Bahrain. Alongside the mask itself, archaeologists discovered personal items such as seashell rings, a large ceramic vessel, sewing implements (or awls), and kohl applicators used for cosmetics or ritual purposes—all retrieved using fine sand-sifting methods—which point to complex burial practices possibly related to afterlife beliefs.
See also: Searching For Dilmun: Underwater Ruins In The Persian Gulf Predate The Pharaohs And Sumer
The ancient civilization of Dilmun once served as a vital link between Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), the Indus Valley (in present-day Pakistan/India), and Arabia through extensive trade networks around 2,000 B.C., making it one of humanity’s earliest civilizations mentioned even in Sumerian texts as an independent kingdom.
See also: More Archaeology News
Scholars are still investigating the exact location of Dilmun, with Bahrain remaining one of the primary possibilities. Each new find, such as this faience mask, contributes valuable information that helps us better understand the enigmatic civilization that played a significant role in shaping early history across areas now recognized as Iraq, Iran, Bahrain, Arabia, Pakistan, and India.
Source: Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities
Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer