Aarhus: The main auditorium of Moesgaard Museum in Aarhus, Denmark, hosted a symposium entitled “Trade Routes and Cities of Dilmun: Exploring How Bahrain Shaped the Ancient World.” The event was attended by Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, Liselotte Plesner, Ambassador of Denmark to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, and Yemen, along with a distinguished audience of cultural figures from both countries. The symposium was jointly organized by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and Moesgaard Museum.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa inaugurated the program, emphasizing the importance of cultural cooperation with Moesgaard Museum, a leading institution in archaeology and ethnography. He praised the museum’s efforts in highlighting the Dilmun civilization and its commercial connections with neighboring regions. He stated that the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities is committed to preserving the Kingdom’s archaeological heritage and promoting its achievements internationally.
Prof. Mads K. Holst, Director of Moesgaard, expressed his gratitude for the collaboration, noting that it reflects the deep cultural ties between Bahrain and Denmark. The symposium featured a lecture by Dr. Salman Almahari, Director General of Archaeology at the Authority, titled “Bahrain and the Legacy of Dilmun: Tracing an Ancient Civilization Through its Archaeological Sites.” Dr. Almahari discussed prominent Dilmun-era sites in Bahrain, such as Qal’at al Bahrain, Saar settlement, Barbar Temples, and the numerous burial mounds across the island. He emphasized Bahrain’s role as a central hub of the Dilmun civilization, acting as a bridge between ancient cultures.
Dr. Steffen Laursen, Curator of Arabian Archaeology at Moesgaard, presented findings from excavations at Qal’at al Bahrain conducted between 2020 and 2025, highlighting its significance in Dilmun’s history. This was followed by a lecture from Dr. Ole Herslund, Field Director of Moesgaard’s investigations on Failaka Tell, Kuwait, who discussed the site’s function as a trading colony established by the Kings of Dilmun.
The program concluded with a documentary screening of “Looking for Dilmun” by director Teddy Bruslund, supported by the Carlsberg Foundation. The documentary offered fresh insights into the region’s shared archaeological heritage. The symposium aimed to promote Bahrain’s archaeological legacy, underscore the lasting impact of Dilmun, foster academic collaboration between Bahraini and Danish researchers, encourage scientific research, and raise cultural awareness of Bahrain’s rich history.