Page 104 - DILMUN 14

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Io bctter understand the coastal evolution of the Oal'at al-Bahrain, and
corollarilly, that of its peopling, it thus appears useful to exanine with
particular attention, the articulation between the end of the Kassite
occupation (characteried by a well nown ceramic material), and the
beginning of the Nco-assyrian occupation. his research was possible in the
soundings 2,3,8 and 9 (Fig. 2). In these soundings, we will examine only the
sequence defined above. However, as we are obligated to use the general
chronology established on the basis of the ensemble of stratigraphic
soundings conducted on the northern part of the Oal'at al-Bahrain, we will
present here a resume figure of the entire chronology (able 2). he
excavations which permitted the establishment of this chronology will be
published.

Sondages 2,3,8 and 9

Opened against the outside wall of the moat of the Portuguese fort, sounding 3
revealed a relatively long sequence, formed of generally undisturbed levels (Fig. 3).
In this sounding, the late occupations (Hellenistic to modern), were found from the
levels of 7.70 above sea level to 3.00 meters above sea level. Below, and until the
level of 0.40 the level of very wet 'beach sand', were found sucessive levels of
occupation dating from the 19tlhl8th century to the seventh century B.C. It is tihus
below the level of. three meters on which we will concentrate our attention.

he earliest occupation observed in this sounding as cultural period II".his
period appears to follow that' called Barbar, which is absent from this part of the
site. his period II might correspond to the end of the city II of the anish
chronology (Fig. 4).

his is followed by the occupation of period III, clearly attributed to the assite
period, Following upon it is a level without structures, and veyr poor in
archaeological material : it appears to correspond to a total abandonment of the
area.

At the level of2.40 meters of terre battue mars the reoccupation of the area. he
material excavated from this level was at first diiffcult to identiyf. Cetrain
rfagments resembled Kassite ceramisc: goblets, bases and rims of heavy pinish­
beige ware, with abundant mineral temper (Fig. 7:4-6, 14-20). However, these
ceramics were associated with others, completely different in their form, and
sepecially in their ware: yellowish to pale olive green; this ware is veyr light,
containing abundant vegetal temper, otfen from large cut ifbers (Fig. 9:3,9,19,32
and plate 1:6).

his ceramic ware has never previously been mentioned nor described from the
Oal'at al-Bahrain. his fact seems similairly suprirsing as soundings 2, 8 and 9

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