Bahrain, Japan to boost archaeological cooperation

TDT | Manama                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Bahrain and Japan signed a memorandums of understanding (MoU) that will allow the expansion of the work of the Japanese excavation mission in the Kingdom and conduct in-depth studies of Bahraini artifacts. 

The MoU between the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) and Japanese institutions was signed at the Bahrain National Museum during a meeting on archaeological cooperation between Bahrain and Japan.

BACA President Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa highlighted the importance of cultural cooperation between Bahrain and Japan, especially in antiquities and thanked the Ambassador for his continuous support for the cultural movement in the Kingdom.

He expressed his delight with the expansion of cooperation between the two countries that began more than 30 years ago, and the signing of new memorandums of understanding.

He noted that this would enhance work between Bahraini and Japanese institutions in the scientific field and the preservation of discoveries in archaeological sites.

Japanese Ambassador to Bahrain Miyamoto Masayuki thanked BACA for the efforts to build bridges of communication between Japan and Bahrain, and stressed that the meeting reflects the cooperation between the two countries in archaeological excavation.

He said that Japanese archaeological experts have worked for years to uncover the features of the Dilmun civilization, which is centered in Bahrain and is one of the most important civilizations in the region.

He expressed his happiness with the participation of the Japanese archaeological mission in the excavations in the Kingdom.

The first agreement between BACA and the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties to conduct archaeological studies and excavations in Wadi al-Sail burial mounds in Riffa for five years. 

The second agreement with the Museum, Archaeological Institute of Kashihara, Nara Prefecture will facilitate archaeological studies and excavations at the Tylos burial mounds in Maqaba.

The third agreement was signed with the University of Kanazawa to document archaeological sites in Bahrain and conduct studies on many artifacts at the Bahrain National Museum.

The Japanese excavation team gave a lecture on the projects excavation mission in Bahrain. 

Ayanao Yamada spoke about the history of the Japanese team's excavations in Bahrain. While Masashi Abe dealt with the project of excavations in Wadi Al-Sail.

As for Akinori Yosugi, he spoke about the project of mapping Dilmun and documenting and analyzing the landscape of the early Dilmun burial mounds.