KUWAIT CITY, Nov 17: The National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters (NCCAL) announced on Monday the discovery of significant new archaeological findings at the Bahra 1 site in the Subiya region of northern Kuwait. The discoveries include more than 20 ancient kilns estimated to be around 7,700 years old, half of a sculpted figure of a winged owl, remnants of locally cultivated barley dating back 7,500 years, clay vessels that shattered during firing, a small clay human head, miniature figurines, a model of a boat, and pottery used for food preparation.

Mohammed bin Reda, Acting Assistant Secretary-General for the Antiquities and Museums Sector at NCCAL, told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that Bahra 1 is considered the oldest and largest known settlement in the Arabian Peninsula linked to the Ubaid culture, dating back to approximately 5700 BCE. He added that the newly uncovered artefacts offer a vivid glimpse into the daily life of the ancient community that inhabited the region thousands of years ago.

He explained that the Polish archaeological mission focused this season on both field and laboratory analyses to uncover details of daily life at the site. These included studying ornament-making techniques and conducting ground-penetrating radar surveys, which revealed buried cultural remains that may guide future excavation efforts.

Dr. Hassan Ashkanani, Assistant Professor of Archaeology at Kuwait University, noted that the new discoveries represent a major contribution to understanding the development of early local communities in the Subiya region. He said they complement findings from previous excavation seasons that uncovered workshops for crafting ornaments and jewelry from seashells.

Dr. Agnieszka Binkowska, Deputy Director of the Polish excavation team, stated that the latest results provide valuable insights into everyday practices, methods of food preparation, and the production of locally-made pottery using clay mixed with wild plants, as well as the use of bitumen as a fuel source.

Meanwhile, Professor Anna Smogorzewska described the newly discovered pottery items and the local pottery workshop as among the most significant archaeological achievements at the site in recent years.