Jacques' memento

HISTORY enthusiasts will have the chance to view a unique 'birthday' exhibition which brings to life the excitement of the discovery and documentation of the rich cultural heritage of Bahrain through photographs, museum pieces, maps and film.

Organised by the French Embassy, 'ARKHEO, 30 years of French archaeology in Bahrain', is housed at the Bahraini-French Cultural Centre, la Maison Jamsheer in Muharraq and is open to view from today until the end of the year.

Exhibition curator Sandra Troise, attachŽe culturelle et de co-opŽration at the embassy, said: "The message it carries is that it's important to protect one's national identity and heritage.

"The oldest photograph here is dated 1977 and we will be organising special guided tours through the embassy in Arabic, English and French.

"ARKHEO is open to everyone and school students from Saudi Arabia and UAE have already expressed interest in viewing the exhibition.

"It's fascinating to know that the island was occupied during the Tylos era when Alexander the Great was alive and also during the Babylonian Empire.

"Research also shows that the Khamis mosque, built at the beginning of Islamic period, is probably the oldest mosque in the region."

Thirty years ago Jacques Chirac, then France's prime minister, gave the green light to archaeologist Dr Monik Kervran to conduct a French archaeological mission to Bahrain.

As a result many French researchers have worked on various sites in the kingdom in close co-operation with their Bahraini counterparts.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary and pay tribute to the researchers the exhibition about the excavations was organised.

The concept revolves around the evolution of the landscape of the country, explained Parastoo Jafari, designer of the exhibition.

She said: "Bahrain's seas have a special turquoise blue and Bahrain is known to have been a land of a million palm trees.

"The exhibition is housed in a traditional Bahraini house over a hundred years old and effort has been made to preserve the beauty of the house while showcasing the immense archaeological work that has been undertaken in the last 30 years."

The French archaeological mission has been responsible for discovering several phases of the island's history dating back 3,000 years - the Dilmun period from the third to the first millennium BC; the Tylos period, 250 BC until 250 AD, and the Islamic period from the 13th to the 17th Century.

Qal'at al-Bahrain has the unique distinction of a series of cities built one after another in an area of around eight metres. Research shows that the site was possibly the former capital city of the island and had been occupied continuously from 2300 BC to the 18th Century.

This evening at 6pm there will be a special lecture in French on the 'History of the French Archaeological Mission' by Dr Kevran and Dr Pierre Lombard, the first directors of the French archaeological mission to Bahrain.

Tomorrow at 6pm Karim Hendili, a United Nations Educational and Scientific Organisation representative, will deliver a talk in English entitled: 'The ranking of Qal'at al-Bahrain at the Unesco World Heritage Site: an international recognition'.

On November 3, at 8pm, Yousif Dawood, archaeologist, and Pierre Lombard will underline the originality of Qal'at al-Bahrain as well as its importance in the history of the country in Arabic.

All the lectures have been organised at the Al Zayed Press Heritage House in Muharraq.

For more information about the event call the French Embassy on 17298622.