Dilmun Temple At Saar (Saar Excavation Reports / London-Bahrain Archaeological Expe) [Hardcover]

Harriet Crawford (Author), Robert Killick (Author), Jane Moon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0710304870 | ISBN-13: 978-0710304872 | Publication Date: January 6, 1997 | Edition: 1

Four thousand years ago the land of Dilmun lay at the crossroads between the civilized world and the mysterious East. Its merchants prospered greatly from the lucrative trade in copper and luxury goods which passed through their country. After much debate, Dilmun was finally identified in the 1950s as the island of Bahrain in the Arabian Gulf. Only very recently have archaeologists been able to investigate any town or village of this culture, and thus discover anything of the Dilmun way of life. This book is the first in a series presenting the excavations at ancient Saar, where the London-Bahrain Archaeological Expedition is working to uncover a complete Dilmun settlement. The work aims to bridge the gap between the amateur and the professional by using a new format, with graphics and illustrations. Scholarly data is included, but arranged so as not to impede the main text. Thus the information is conveyed in a comprehensive manner, which should make the fascinating Dilmun civilization accessible to everyone. In this volume, the structure and contents of the temple, the town's most prominent building, is presented in detail, with separate chapters on pre-temple buildings, the architecture of the temple, and different phases in the temple's history. An introduction places the Saar site in its historical and geographical context, and there are sections on finds in the temple including seals and pottery, on dating the temple, on the temple and Dilmun society and evidence of cultic practices found in the temple. Appendices provide a summary of earlier excavations, a list of archaeological contexts and finds arranged by context number and by material and type.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (January 6, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0710304870
• ISBN-13: 978-0710304872
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,292,243 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #64 in Books > History > Middle East > Bahrain

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An example of publishing excellence!, September 23, 2001

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dilmun Temple At Saar (Saar Excavation Reports / London-Bahrain Archaeological Expe) (Hardcover)

This book, first published in 1997, brings the reader almost completely up to date on what is known about ancient Dilmun. It begins with a chapter describing what is known about Dilmun in general, and Saar in particular. Then the book reports on the temple itself, followed by chapters dealing with what was found within the temple. Along the way, there is a great deal of information on stamp seals and sealing, including a catalogue of seals and sealings, and information on a whole host of other topics. Included are many excellent black-and-white and color(!) photographs, illustrations and maps.

This book is an example of publishing excellence! It is highly informative, wonderfully laid out, and beautifully illustrated. I found the catalogue of seals and sealing, which often included photographs and clear renderings, to be absolutely fascinating, something I have not seen anywhere else. So, if you are interested in ancient Dilmun, or even Mesopotamia, then you must get this book! I give it my highest rating.