High-resolution insight into parasitic infections and diet of past populations in Northern Europe and the Middle East (500 BC- 1700 AD) was obtained by pre-concentration of parasite eggs from ancient latrines and deposits followed by shotgun sequencing of DNA. Complementary profiling of parasite, vertebrate and plant DNA proved highly informative in the study of ancient health, human-animal interactions as well as animal and plant dietary components. Most prominent were finding of soil-borne parasites transmitted directly between humans, but also meat-borne parasites that require consumption of raw or undercooked fish and pork. The detection of parasites for which sheep, horse, dog, pig, and rodents serves as definitive hosts are clear markers of domestic and synanthropic animals living in closer proximity of the respective sites. Finally, the reconstruction of full mitochondrial parasite genomes from whipworm (Ascaris lumbricoides) and roundworm species (Trichuris trichiura and Trichuris muris) and estimates of haplotype frequencies elucidates the genetic diversity and provides insights into epidemiology and parasite biology.

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In the first half of the second millennium, Tell F6 on Failaka Island was the location of two large public buildings (a temple and a production/storage facility) belonging to the Early Dilmun Culture. During excavation in 2018, an elevation in the north‐eastern margin of the tell proved to contain the remains of a 11.5 × 11.5 m platform. The nature of the building and its position in relation to the main temple indicate that it served as the platform for yet another—now razed—temple. Radiocarbon analysis dates its construction to the early second millennium BC and suggests that it was constructed contemporary with the adjacent main temple. The discovery further substantiates the general impression of a dramatic increase in investments in public buildings in this period of the Early Dilmun Culture.

The dating of the Coastal Fortress at Qala'at al‐Bahrain to the Islamic period has been maintained by the Danish excavators since the building was uncovered in 1955–57. The French excavators have argued for a considerably earlier date, in the Sasanian period. The problem with this dating is firstly, the lack of Sasanian finds on the alleged early floor of the fortress and secondly, the status of this floor which is known only from very small trenches and more likely belongs to a Late Parthian architectural phase predating the fortress.

Four stone blocks decorated with T‐shaped grooves indicate the presence of a Mesopotamian‐style temple in the tell of Qala'at al‐Bahrain on the north coast of the island of Bahrain.