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Bahrain Culture Authority Unveils First Archaeological Proof of Christian Monastery in Samaheej
Area, Muharraq

Bahram's Culture S Antiquities Authority (BACA) announced in a press conference on 28 November
2019. an important archaeological discovery, the first of its kind to constitute a missing link that will
contribute to a better understanding of Christian history in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The on-site press
conference attended by British-Bahrain Excavation team and the inhabitants of Samaheej village
showcased this new rare archaeological discovery after many excavations were made at the site by
the common British-Bahrain archaeologists led by Professor Timothy Insol. Dr Rachel MacLean
from University of Exeter, and Dr Salman AJ Mahan. Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities.
Professor Timothy Inso) commented on the event saying that it was the most important
archaeological discovery in the region, expressing his gratitude and thanks to H E Shaikhs Mai Bint
Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities, for her efforts to
support the project, extending his thanks to Samaheej local community for their valuable support and
assistance shown towards the excavation team and all facilities enjoyed to carry out their job
Dr Salman Al Mahan, for his part, said that these archaeological findings reveal the Christian
existence historically in the island of Muharraq, adding that season of excavation works has come to
end temporanly, hoping that the next 2020 excavation season will bring more happy news with
regard to archaeological discoveries in the area of Samaheej. A1-Dair until Qalali
The texts mention a number of places and episcopal sees mainly around the Bahrain archipelago.
and the archaeological finds are mainly churches and monastenes, which seem to bear several
simdanties in architecture and decoration despite the geographical dispersion, in addition to several
Sesser finds Samaheej had a Nestorian Christian presence during Us early history, wth old
foundations of a Nestorian monastery being discovered in the village. The site of the excavation
consists of a high hill located in Die center of the tomb of Samaheej topped by the remains of a small
mosque known as "Sheikh Malik Mosque", probably dating from the 17th century, and below it is the
Christian building The archaeological discovery is a large budding 17 meters long and 10 meters
wide, which may have been part of a monastery or largo house
Samaheej archeological ode tell had been previously the subject of excavations and explorations for
three years by a Bahraini-British team led by Timothy Insole and Rachel McLean from the University
of Exeter and Salman Almahari from Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities in Samaheej area
in Muharraq, before the team re-started their works gain this year.
Based on a study of the pottery artifacts discovered by Robert Carter. Professor of Arabian and
Muddle Eastern Archaeology, many broken pottery vessels which were also found used in storing
wine, it is therefore possible that these Christians were part of the Nestorian Church, which probably
flounshed in the Gulf between the 5th and 7th centuries.
In addition of the pottery pieces . the budding is made up of chambers with pieces of stone were
inserted to complete the decoration in various gypsum and limestone, a decorated cnrcifix or cross
was also found on pottery broken glassware and other pieces used for storing and drinking wine
figure also among the finds, suggesting that those Christians of the Nestorian Church were part of
the congregation that flourished during that period of time.
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