Page 258 - Life & Land Use on the Bahrain Islands (Curtis E Larsen)

-234-

knowledge up to date. Still more pertinent information regarding Persian Gulf
seals has been presented by Brunswig and Parpola (n.d.), who provide better
chronological control for them. A more complete analysis of stratified gulf seals
from Failaka Island near Kuwait is being completed by Poul Kjaerum at this
writing. He views the characteristic Dilmun seal to cover a broader time range
then previously thought. For example, these seals continue, with some variation in
form from the Isin-Larsa period through to the Kassite period. Thus, they should
not be considered as definite temporal markers until this exact relationship is
known (Poul Kjaerum, personal communication).

TTie seals from Bahrain represent several varieties. Each, however, is
round and carved from steatite or limestone. Remnants of white glaze often
adhere to incised portions of the steatite seals. The carved designs include
common motifs of gazelles, scorpions, and bulls, while the reverse side of the seal
contains a circular boss, perforated to permit threading of a thong or other
attachment. Tbe boss is present as a small knob incised by a single line, or by a
larger, hemispheric shape incised with three, closely-spaced, parallel lines that
bisect the back of the seal. Two incised circles with a central dot are found on
either side of the parallel lines giving the reverse design bilateral symmetry, (see
Bibby 1969, 1971).
Bibby has reported incised Indus script and short-horned bulls on two such
seals from Qala^at al Bahrain. Circular Persian Gulf seals with examples of the
Indus script come from the basal Barbar II levels at the north wall trench (Brunswig
and Parpola, n.d.). TTiese were found in the foundation for the Barbar II gateway.
A short distance away in the same level, a small cuneiform tablet was found.
Brunswig (1975) would date the seals to the Late Mature Harappan context of the
Indus Valley (ca. 2200-2100 B.C.), but the tablet, as Brunswig and Parpola (n.d.)
note, can be dated more reliably. Personal communication with Gelb identified the
Amorite. Gelb placed it in the post Ur HI or early Isin-Larsa period (ca.
tablet as
2050-1900 B.C.).