Page 90 - DILMUN 12

I

DEATH IN DILMUN

C.C. Lamberg - Karlovsky

Hie burial mounds of Bahrain have been the subject of both renewed research and new
debate. The pioneering work of Mackay (1929) and Cornwall (1943), among others, was
substantively advanced by Bibby (1954, 1969), whose Danish team provided the fullest
understanding of the ‘Dilmun Civilization’. Within the past years two significant publications
have greatly advanced our understanding of the archaeology of Bahrain in general, and the
vast burial grounds in particular. The exemplary publication of Larsen (1983) on the geoar-
chacology of Bahrain and Ibrahim (1983) on the excavation of numerous burial mounds adds
a new dimension to our understanding of Gulf archaeology. Additionally, Potts (in press) has
presented the first systematic attempt to provide a relative chronology for the Gulf area.

In 1982 I published an article amplifying the earlier views of Mackay (1929) and
Cornwall (1943), ( Contra Bibby 1969 : 18) which suggested that:

“(1) there is an insufficient indigenous settlement pattern (i.e. popula­
tion) of this date to account for the enormous number of graves in Bahrain
and the adjacent Eastern provinces of Saudi Arabia, and that (2) these
tumuli represent an elaborate funerary cult reflected in Sumerian literature
referring to Dilmun” (Lamberg - Karlovsky 1982 : 46).

With an increasing research on, and excavation of, these burial mounds scholars have
been consistently increasing the number of burials present on the island; thus, suggestions
have ranged from:

Cornwall (1943) 50,000 tumuli
Bibby (1969) 100,000 tumuli
Larsen (1983) 172,013 tumuli

Ibrahim (1983 : 1) “double the number of Bibby’s estimate”

Since 1878 Europeans have on numerous occasions carried out excavations of the tumuli
mounds on Bahrain. The first such work was undertaken by E.L. Durand (1880:189-201).
Finally, after over 100 years, we are, for the first time, presented by Professor Moawiyah
Ibrahim, and his colleagues, a comprehensive publication detailing the results of the tumuli
excavations of the Arab Expedition at Sar el-Jisr, Bahrain. Prior to this publication we lacked
an adequate typology of these burial mounds, and understanding of their construction techni­
que, and an understanding of archaeological context of aerial and skeletal remains. The Arab
Expedition is to be warmly congratulated for making the results of this expedition available in

an exemplary and timely fashion.

Dr. Ibrahim in his monographic report on the results of his expedition does not directly
confront the issue as to whether the burials incorporate the dead of surrounding geographical
areas or represent exclusively the burials of an indigenous population. He does, however,
imply that all five types of burial tombs belong to the same culture “within a long time period”
and that they were “built by specialists” who were “centrally organized”. From a study of the
funerary objects Ibrahim concludes that “many seem specifically made for burial purposes”
and when confronted with tombs lacking human skeletons but with rich funerary remains (i.e.
S-100 with ostrich shells, bronze nail or drill, basket coated with bitumen, animal bones) he

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