Qal'at al-Bahrain
| قلعة البحرين | |
Overview of the Bahrain Fort.
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 Shown within Bahrain
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| Location | Capital Governorate, Bahrain |
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| Coordinates | 26°14′01″N 50°31′14″E / 26.23361°N 50.52056°ECoordinates: 26°14′01″N 50°31′14″E / 26.23361°N 50.52056°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Founded | 2300 BC |
| Abandoned | 16th century AD |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | In ruins |
| Official name | Qal`at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbour and Capital of Dilmun |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iii, iv |
| Designated | 2005 (29th session) |
| Reference no. | 1192 |
| Region | Arab States |
The Qal'at al-Bahrain (in Arabic: قلعة البحرين), also known as the Bahrain Fort or Fort of Bahrain and previously as the Portugal Fort (Qal'at al Portugal) is an archaeological site located in Bahrain, on the Arabian Peninsula. Archaeological excavations carried out since 1954 have unearthed antiquities from an artificial mound of 12 m (39 ft) height containing seven stratified layers, created by various occupants from 2300 BC up to the 18th century, including Kassites, Greeks, Portuguese and Persians. It was once the capital of the Dilmun civilization and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.
The archaeological findings, which are unearthed in the fort, reveal much about the history of the country. The area is thought to have been occupied for about 5000 years and contains a valuable insight into the Copper and Bronze Ages of Bahrain. The first Bahrain Fort was built around three thousand years ago, on the northeastern peak of Bahrain Island. The present fort dates from the sixth century AD. The capital of the Dilmun civilization, Dilmun was, according to the Epic of Gilgamesh, the "land of immortality", the ancestral place of Sumerians and a meeting point of gods. Since 1987 Bahrain archaeologists have been involved with this work. The archaeological findings have revealed seven civilizations of urban structures beginning with Dilmun empire, the most important ancient civilization of the region. The Danish expedition revealed that it was a notable Hellenistic site.
The fort and the tell Qal'at al-Bahrain is built on, are located on the Bahrain island, on the northern seashore. On a clear day it is also seen from Saar. It stands like a "sentinel" near Manama, the capital of Bahrain; it is 6 km (4 mi) away from Manama on the fertile north coast. The tell is the largest in the Persian Gulf region and was built close to the port and by reclamation of seashore land. Qal'at al-Bahrain
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