Chalcolithic settlement of Bahra 1 and its possible functions

Abstract

Excavations of the Kuwaiti-Polish Archaeological Mission at the site of Bahra 1 in Kuwait uncovered the remains of a large settlement from the sixth millennium BC, associated with the Mesopotamian Ubaid culture. This connection is made clear by the presence of Ubaid Ware from the Ubaid 2/3 phase that appears alongside Red Coarse Ware typical for the Arabian Neolithic. Architecture of the settlement resembled the Ubaid one with orthogonal, multi-chambered houses. In one part of the site they form a dense block with traits that indicate some degree of spatial planning. This type of spatial arrangement is absent in Arabian Neolithic settlements and is also unknown from Ubaid settlements in Mesopotamia. One of the buildings discovered at Bahra 1 has a ground plan reminiscent of a sanctuary from Eridu XVI and was probably associated with cultic activities, as was a circular stone enclosure (Unit 6), representing local building traditions. The character of Bahra 1 architecture and the presence of cultic buildings at the site suggest that the settlements served as a local ceremonial and/or cultic centre.

Lithic and stone industries of Bahra 1, an Ubaid‐related site in northern Kuwait

“…(1) Dyson (1969); (2) Huot et al (1980); (3) Hole et al (1977); (4) Vanden Berge (1959); (5) Wright (1981); (6) Bieliński (2018, 2020). …”

“…The techno-morphological features of these blades are identical to the Mlefatian Neolithic from the Zagros, Deh Luran, Hamrin, Jezirah and Fars. 6) Bieliński (2018Bieliński ( , 2020.…”

“…For that site, the use of quartz was calculated at about 9.7% and the same forms and methods of exploitation were observed on some of the artefacts (Kallweit & Davies, 2010, p. 106). The other known Neolithic sites in the Gulf region, starting with the discoveries in Dosariyah (Drechsler, 2018) and other northeastern sites 13) Bieliński (2018Bieliński ( , 2020.…”

“…They were calibrated against the Marine09 marine curve using OxCal software. To account for the marine reservoir effect, a mean value for Δ R of 230 ± 65 years was used, which resulted in calibrated ages of 5571–5283 to 5297–4949 bc , 2 σ range (Bieliński, 2013, p. 175, 2018, p. 29, 2020).…”

Excavations at MR11 on Marawah Island (Abu Dhabi, UAE): new insight into the architecture and planning of Arabian Neolithic settlements and early evidence for pearling

“…Or like Unit 6 at Bahra 1, could it be related to ceremonial and/or cultic space? (Bieliński, ). A clue to the function of the elongated hall may be the presence of multiple doorways (at least two doorways on the northern side and two on the southern) which would have provided access to multiple community members.…”