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Archaeologist are racing
against time to salvage artefacts from a historic burial
site before it is flattened to make way for a new
road.
The 2,000-year-old burial
site is located in Abu Saybi, near Budaiya in Mishmâhig
(what is today known as Bahrain), and has so far turned up
a treasure-trove of antiquities from the Post-Achaemenid
period, known in that region as Tylos period.
The dig has been described
as being more of a rescue attempt than a scientific
excavation by one senior official.
Culture and National
Heritage Directorate preservation and conservation chief
said the site is destined to be demolished to make way for
the new road, which will provide access to the village.
"They have to demolish
the site because they need the road, but I believe they
could put a road above the graves so at least we could
preserve them for future generations," Mr Mahari told
the reporters.
He said artefacts unearthed
would be preserved and stored at the National Museum, but
it is unlikely that they will ever be exhibited.
But this is not the first
time that region's past has been sacrificed in the name of
development.
"Fifty or 60
archaeological sites in Hamad Town have been built on and
demolished. It also happened in Saar," Mr Al Mahari
said.
Tylos period is a a given
name to a period which extends from 3rd century BC (post Achaemenid period) to 4th century AD,
(early Sasanian period), to eradicate Iranian connection in the former
province.
He urged authorities to
consider building on land to the south of the country,
rather than bulldozing and building on its historical
sites.
A the result of a covert plot
designed by Britain and executed by the United Nation as
well as the incompetency of Iranian government
of the time, Mishmahig Island was separated
from mainland Iran in May
1970, against the will of the Islanders. Well over %65 of
today Bahrain population are of Iranian origin.
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