Oldest human fingerprint discovered in north Kuwait – UNESCO team visits site: Al-Duweesh

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KUWAIT CITY, Nov 19, (KUNA): A joint team of excavators discovered a 7,300 years old human fingerprint – the earliest in the Near East region, in Al-Sabiyya area, north Kuwait. The fingerprint was found on a piece of broken clay pot dating from the Stone Age (from 8,700 BC. to 2,000 BC.) in Bahrah I Excavation Zone in Al-Sabiyya, an official from the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) announced on Friday.

“The find adds to a list of important discoveries recently excavated in the area; these include an ancient town, a temple, a cemetery, wells and pottery which provide important clues as to the life of primitive man,” said Dr Sultan Al-Duweesh, director of NCCAL’s archaeological and museums dept. “The team of excavators is made up of 17 archaeologists, including 11 Polish, five Kuwaitis from NCCAL and a US scholar,” Dr Al-Duweesh pointed out.

He added that NCCAL is in consultation with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to add Bahrah I Excavation Zone to the World Heritage List given its universal value, and unique and exceptional significance to human civilization.

“A UNESCO team, led by Dr Mohammad Bu-Zyan, visited the site as part of efforts to list it as a world heritage site,” Dr Al-Duweesh said. NCCAL pursues a careful plan as to archeological excavations and survey of the area which bears the promise of providing a clearer insight into human live in the Stone Age, he added.

Meanwhile, Minister of Information and State Minister for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Al-Hamoud recommended registration of ‘Bahrah’ among the world heritage sites. Al-Duweish added that a team from UNESCO, headed by Dr Mohamed Bouziane, Dr Mustafa Al-Khanousi and Dr Said Al- Janabi, visited the site in order to prepare for its inclusion to the preliminary list.

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