Shakhura
Shakhura (Arabic:شاخورة , sometimes transliterated as Shakura) is a village situated in north-central Bahrain. It is a part of the Northern Governorate administrative region. The village is notable for its burial mounds, which have been nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[1]
History
Shakhura is the site of an ancient necropolis dating back to the Tylos era of Bahraini history.[2] The site was estimated to have been occupied from the 3rd century BC to the 4th century AD.[2] Of significant interest of the site was a large 80 m long, 4-12.7 high burial mound.[2] It was noted to have had several distinct raised parts. The mound was demolished during the 1990s to make way for buildings.[2] Excavations at the mound revealed 90 graves with the original graves being situated in the centre of the mound, while others were added in arcs.[2] In 2008, archaeologists announced the discovery of a layer of ash that contained fragments of glazed pottery with fish and animal bones, on the site. This led to archaeologists speculating that the Tylos civilisation practiced funeral banquets, which involved offering food and drink to the deceased and burying human and animal bones inside the tomb.[3]
The Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) had its animal shelter in the village during 2010 and 2011.[4]
References
- ↑ AL A'ALI, MOHAMMED (25 May 2010). "Call to protect burial mounds". Gulf Daily News. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Michael Rice, Harriet E. W. Crawford (2000). Traces of Paradise: The Archaeology of Bahrain 2500 BC-300 AD. I.B. Tauris. p. 142. ISBN 9780953866601.
- ↑ Torr, Rebecca (2 January 2008). "New theory on Tylos-era rituals". Gulf Daily News. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
- ↑ Torr, Rebecca (17 July 2011). "Animal shelter to open by year-end". Gulf Daily News. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
Coordinates: 26°13′N 50°30′E / 26.217°N 50.500°E