BACA setting up mobile conservation & restoration team for heritage sites

TDT | Manama                                        

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities is moving ahead with plans to set up a mobile ‘Conservation and Maintenance team’ to protect heritage sites in the Kingdom.

The team, consisting of workers and specialists, BACA said, will carry out emergency maintenance and restoration works in the event of detecting damage.

Bahrain believed to be the location of Dilmun Civilisation dating back to the 4th millennium BC, has three archaeological sites recognised by UNESCO as world heritage sites – Qal’at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbour and Capital of Dilmun (2005), Dilmun Burial Mounds (2019) and Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy (2012).

Besides, there are also several other properties on a tentative list, which the Kingdom intends to consider for the nomination - Hamad Town Tumuli Moundfield, Barbar Temple, Saar Heritage Park, Hawar Islands Reserve, Manama, City of Trade, Multiculturalism and Religious Coexistence and Awali oil settlement.

BACA said the mobile team’s task would be to support those buildings in precarious states, restore monuments periodically, conduct emergency maintenance of heritage sites and fences surrounding them, assist in rescue and emergency excavation works, restore heritage buildings belonging to BACA, support conservation experts and clean and secure abandoned heritage buildings.

The authority said they would conduct a periodic examination of the heritage sites in the Kingdom for restoration. The move, BACA said, aims at protecting the heritage sites from “further damage and destruction”.

A tender launched for the purpose says the authority seeks workers to join its team for conserving and restoring heritage sites in the Kingdom. BACA has invited proposals from eligible companies that could provide skilled labourers to join the team.

“It is mandatory to submit item no. 7.4 (PROPOSAL ADEQUACY), along with all its supporting documents, otherwise will not be considered the marks (%) got on other criteria. Therefore, the bidder will automatically be considered as FAILED and not considered for Financial Evaluation,” the tender adds. Proposals should reach the board before the 1st of March 2023, with a BD1,000 bond having 90 days of validity.