Page 40 - DILMUN 14

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IFigure 8 Two-dimensional contour plot of grid No, ١ (dipole configuration is horivontal:
dipole direction is nortl-s١uth: size is 43 b7١5 .)srtee ‫ﺏ‬

Figurt ) 'Two-limcnsional contour plot of grid No, ١٠١ot rcpresents the subtraction of
the "horiontal value;" fon the "٧ertical ٧٦lues," Arcas rcpresentcd by 2cro values in
cither ١atrix are ignorcd to avoid cxtrene plot-٧alucs; si2e is 43 by 75 mcters.

Figure ١0 isonctric projection of grid No. 2 (view from northw‫ﻡ‬est;dipole configuration is
vertical).

Figure ١1 Two-dimensional contour plot of grid No. 2 (dipole configuration is vertical;
north is up; dipole dircction is north-south; size is 73 by 46 meters).

Traverses measured just south of the lslamic fortress found significant wall
structures suggestiig the presence of a canal system. This system had been partly
exposed earlier by Danish archaeologists and is prescntly being explored by the
French Archaeological Mission to Bahrain. A significant decrease in the
conductivity suggested the opposite limit of the assumed canal or harbor system,
which was later verified by excavation. Continuing excavations resulted in the
exposure of a canal bordered by well-developed stone walls starting at the
coastline, extending east of the Islamic fortress, turning west, and disappearing
below the area where the ruins of the Portuguese fortress are presently located
(Figure 1). The traverse labeled OS passes perpendicular to the known direction of
the formerly discovered canal, extending from the coast to the eastern part of the
Portuguese fortress (Figures 1, 4). The conductivity pattern on all three parallel
lines shows a significant decrease when passing the area where the canal is present.
Assuming that this response in the conductivity was caused by the presence of the
canal, a search for similar patterns was conducted when measuring traverses
around the Portuguese fortress in order to identify areas where the canal might
reappear. However, only one area 'at the northwestern end of the Portuguese
fortress yielded a similar pattern. An extensive excavation in this area did not yield
wall structures associated with the canal, but, it did yield other wall structures,
presumably from different time periods. Additional traverse measurements west
of the Islamic fortress and around the Portuguese fortress did not yield similar
conductivity patterns as observed in the area where the canal was found. Nor were
any similar patterns seen when applying the traverse measurements to areas south
of the area where the canal had been found. Presently, it can be assumed that the
canal continues into the area occupied by the more recent Portuguese fortress and
might have been part of an architectural structure carrying water to an earlier
fortification in the same area that is now covered by the Portuguese fortress.

This possibility has not been fully explored, although wall structures within the
Portuguese walls have been found suggesting the presence of earlier fortified
constructions below the space the Portuguese fortress now occupies. However, the

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