Extremely rare artifact unearthed in Bahrain

Archaeologists in Bahrain have uncovered a rare and enigmatic artifact from the ancient Dilmun civilization: an ornamented pottery head known as a faience mask, dating back more than 3,300 years.

The discovery was made at the Al-Hillah archaeological site, shedding new light on burial practices and material culture during the Middle Dilmun period.

The faience mask was found inside a collective grave containing the remains of two women and an infant, offering rare insight into social and funerary traditions in ancient Bahrain. The findings were officially presented at an archaeology conference organized by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities.

Faience masks are extremely uncommon in Bahrain. This particular artifact represents only the second example ever excavated in the country, making it one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in recent years. The ceramic head, believed to have been placed with the deceased as part of burial rituals, remains largely mysterious due to the limited number of comparable finds.

According to archaeologist Mashaal Al Shamsi, who leads the current excavations at Hilla, the mask has not yet been thoroughly studied. Al Shamsi confirmed that a detailed scientific study is now underway, with plans to publish new findings on both the faience mask and associated grave goods.