Dilmun Civilization

Why in News?

Kuwait's Failaka Island has just yielded one of its most significant secrets in decades, a 4,000-year-old temple belonging to the powerful Bronze Age Dilmun civilization.

Recent archaeological findings

• The recent excavation focused on the mound known as Tell F6, situated just east of the Dilmun palace and temple area.
• Stone foundation walls outlining a rectangular multi-roomed temple.
• Pottery sherds typical of early Dilmun craftsmanship.
• Seals and seal impressions used in trade and administrative validation.
• Beads and carved fragments linked to personal adornment and ceremonial roles.
• The floor layout and central chamber structure align closely with ritual buildings found in Bahrain and eastern Arabia, locations also linked to Dilmun religious heritage.

Dilmun Civilization

• Time Period - Flourished around 3000 BCE to 1800 BCE.
• Location - Centered in modern-day Bahrain, with influence extending to parts of eastern Arabia and southern Mesopotamia.
• Important trade hub connecting Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and the Gulf region.
• Economy and Trade - Thrived on trade, agriculture, and fishing.
• Served as a major trading center for copper, dates, pearls, and luxury goods between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley.
• Culture and Society - Known for its well-organized settlements and temples, indicating advanced religious practices.
• Tombs and burial mounds suggest complex social structures.
• Early evidence of writing appears in trade records linked to Mesopotamia.
• Significance - Described in Sumerian texts as a land of immortality and prosperity.
• Played a crucial role in early Gulf trade networks.
• Considered one of the earliest civilizations of the Arabian Gulf.

Reference

Times of India | Dilmun Civilization'