This lecture will show how archaeological research provided, and continues to provide, a rich source of information on the history the Gulf that is missing from the written sources.
Archaeology reveals how high points of settlement invariably coincide with periods of heightened maritime activities, both in trade and production. Concentrations of occupation and activity are associated with the world’s earliest known maritime trading networks in the Neolithic period, the wealthy mercantile Dilmun civilization of Bahrain during the Bronze Age; the peak of Indo-Roman and Parthian trade; the immense maritime networks of the early Islamic period; and the climax of the regional pearl fishery during the 18th-20th centuries CE.
Archaeological case studies from Qatar and Bahrain will be used to show how settlement intensity increased and decreased through time, and how the societies and states of the Gulf were shaped by their maritime setting.
The lecture will be moderated by Maryam Al-Mutawa, Head of Collection Access at QNL. The guest speaker is Dr. Robert Carter, Deputy Director of Heritage and Archaeological Research at Qatar Museums.
The event will be conducted online via Zoom.
Date: 6 August 2025
Time: 5:00 - 6:00 PM
Language: Arabic and English
Target Audience: Researchers, students, academics
Seats are limited, please click the button below to register.
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