Even if Dilmun (or Telmun), the "land of immortality", is mentioned since the time of Mesopotamian civilization, its location is uncertain, but the archaeological excavations carried out since 1954 in the site of Qal'at al-Bahrain (Bahrain Fort), near Manama, the capital of Bahrain, seem to demonstrate that there was the capital of this legendary kingdom. Anyway, at Qal'at al-Bahrain were found seven stratified layers, created by various occupants from 2300 BC up to the 18th century, including Kassites, Portuguese and Persians.
The present fort dates from the 6th century AD, but the site contains many areas and walls, including Saar necropolis, Al-Hajjar necropolis, Kassite Palace, Madimat Hermand necropolis, Madimat Isa necropolis, Al-Maqsha Necropolis, Palace of Uperi, Shakhura necropolis, and the Northern city wall, revealing structures of different types: residential, public, commercial, religious and military. The archaeological site comprising four main elements: an archaeological tell, a sea tower, a sea channel, and the palm-groves.
In 2005, Qal'at al-Bahrain - Ancient Harbour and Capital of Dilmun became an UNESCO World Heritage Site, being considered "an exceptional example of more or less unbroken continuity of occupation over a period of almost 4500 years".
About the stamp, depicting the king Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, I wrote here.
References
Qal'at al-Bahrain - Wikipedia
Qal'at al-Bahrain - Ancient Harbour and Capital of Dilmun - UNESCO official website
sender: Joanita Aguiar (direct swap)
sent from Muharraq (Bahrain), on 22.11.2012
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