SAAR SITE

The Saar site was discovered in 1977 by Bahraini archaeologists. Excavations were then carried out by a Franco-British team from 1990 to 1999. The foundations buried beneath the sand date back to 2050 BC, making it one of the oldest human settlements in Bahrain, developed at the same time as Qal'At Al Bahrain. Aside from this testimony to the earliest days of mankind, what's most impressive about Saar is of course the presence of such a rich site right in the heart of the city. To the east of the archaeological zone, the foundations of the town are clearly visible, and houses and a temple have been discovered. To the west, a necropolis similar to that of Al'Ali, albeit smaller, is also present. Numerous objects and artefacts have been unearthed: seals used to seal goods (in very large numbers, which is surprising for such a small village), copper points (a nearby mine provided the ore), bitumen (probably from Mesopotamia, which would prove the archipelago's ancient trade links with the continent), and also pearls too small to adorn jewelry. These antiquities can be seen at the National Museum. The lack of infrastructure surrounding this site is regrettable. But visiting the site in total freedom, without fences or ticket booths, is not unpleasant either, and reinforces its peaceful, timeless atmosphere.