Failaka relics showcased at Peninsula archaeology event
KUWAIT: The 4th International Seminar on the Archaeology of the Arabian Peninsula kicked off yesterday at Kuwait National Library, as it sheds light on the historical periods Failaka Island went through from the Bronze age, to the Hellenistic period, until the Islamic one. “This seminar comes in cooperation between the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) and The French Center for Archaeology and Social Sciences (CEFAS) for the fourth time,” NCCAL Secretary General of Kamel Al-Abduljalil Kami AlAbduljaleel said in a speech he delivered at the opening of the seminar. This cooperation aims at enhancing and developing the future visions in the fields of archeology, as well as exchanging similarities between Kuwait’s and the Arabian Peninsula artifacts, especially those in Failaka Island through research papers and scheduled lecture, he said. This seminar will demonstrate the nature of Failaka environment through the discovered artifacts, and the effect of its distinguished historical location on its surroundings, he added. It will also tackle its habitats and the latest developments of the field work there by the foreign missions participating with the works of Kuwaiti excavation team. Failaka Island is considered the most important Kuwaiti island regarding its archaeological heaviness, as it dates back to 2000 BC and is located 20 kilometers far eastern Kuwait City, at the length of 13 cubic kilometers, and the width off six cubic kilometers, with the size of 78 cubic meters, and was known for Ikaros, he affirmed. This seminar is a great opportunity that gathers eminent group of archeologists and greatly contributes in offering developed historical studies and researches, he added. The two-day seminar includes scientific sessions to discuss the latest discoveries on Failaka, and a field trip to the island.