A groundbreaking digital experience titled “Bahrain Heritage Tour” has been launched, offering the public a chance to explore Bahrain’s ancient Dilmun and Tylos civilizations through an interactive and innovative format. The event, organized by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities in collaboration with the French Embassy in Bahrain and the Louvre Museum in Paris, runs from November 10–23, 2024. This unique initiative leverages cutting-edge digital technologies to bring Bahraini heritage to life for school and university students, as well as the broader local community.
The “Bahrain Heritage Tour” expands on the exhibit “From Dilmun to Tylos: An Archaeological Journey in the Kingdom of Bahrain,” currently on display at the Louvre Museum. By integrating digital technology, the tour seeks to bring the artifacts and archaeological findings closer to the Bahraini public. The project will be overseen by Mr. Julien Cuny, Head of the French archaeological mission in Bahrain, and will travel across Bahrain’s governorates, making stops at public and private schools, universities, and cultural sites.
Visitors will be able to engage with Bahrain’s ancient history via tablets equipped with a customized application that showcases key artifacts loaned by the Bahrain National Museum to the Louvre. These include pottery jars, cuneiform tablets, Dilmun seals, and statues, each offering a glimpse into the social and cultural life of Bahrain’s past inhabitants. The digital experience is enriched with scientific and archaeological data, provided in collaboration with the French archaeological mission and specialists from the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities.
The two-week tour aims to revive Bahrain’s ancient civilizations by introducing visitors to the significant role of archaeological research in documenting and preserving the country’s historical legacy. In particular, the focus will be on key elements of Bahraini heritage, including the famous Dilmun burial mounds located in A’ali, highlighting the importance of site preservation and fostering a deeper sense of national identity.
Aligned with Bahrain’s vision to promote cultural tourism and preserve its heritage, the project also provides opportunities for academic collaboration. A group of students from the University of Bahrain will participate in the tour, with plans for an academic exchange program in France at the end of the project. This exchange will allow students to train in heritage and archaeological research, furthering their studies in the field.
The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities has extended its thanks to the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC) for its generous support of the project, as well as the Louvre Museum, which provided scientific assistance. Additional partners include the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage, the Observatory of Heritage in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, and the École du Louvre. The digital experience application was developed by Femme Fatale Studio, and the artifacts were photographed by Iconem. This immersive digital tour offers the Bahraini public an extraordinary opportunity to connect with their heritage, ensuring that the story of Bahrain’s ancient civilizations is passed down through innovative and modern means.
