Archaeologists uncover 4,000-year-old Bronze Age Temple on Failaka Island
The find was made in collaboration with a joint Kuwaiti-Danish archaeological team from the Moesgaard Museum during the 2025 excavation season.
The National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters announced the discovery of a Bronze Age temple on Failaka Island, dating back approximately four thousand years to the Dilmun civilization.
The find was made in collaboration with a joint Kuwaiti-Danish archaeological team from the Moesgaard Museum during the 2025 excavation season.
Mohammed bin Redha, Acting Assistant Secretary-General of the Council’s Antiquities and Museums Sector, revealed that the excavation team uncovered the complete design of a temple beneath another previously discovered structure, confirming the presence of two superimposed temples from the same historical period.
“The Council actively supports archaeological missions, restoration, and scientific research across Kuwait, reflecting our commitment to preserving the nation’s cultural heritage and highlighting its rich history,” Bin Redha said.
The recent excavation focused on an area east of the Palace and Dilmun Temple site, specifically on Hill F6, which dates back to the early Dilmun civilization during the Bronze Age.
Dr. Stefan Larsen, head of the Danish mission, explained that previous seasons had uncovered walls thought to be part of a small temple platform, measuring 11 by 11 meters, dating to around 1900 BC.
This season, the team identified the foundations of an additional temple beneath the earlier one, with artifacts such as seals and pottery confirming its origin in the Early Dilmun period.
Professor Hassan Ashkanani of Kuwait University described the dual-temple discovery as a unique archaeological achievement, noting that it raises the total number of known temples in southwestern Failaka to four from the same era.
The findings underscore the island’s role as a major administrative and religious center of the Dilmun Kingdom, alongside other historic sites like Al-Khidr Port and Tell Saad.
Dr. Ole Hersland, overseeing the excavations since 2022, highlighted that current research is focused on studying the architectural details and the daily activities associated with the two temples, emphasizing their significance as religious, cultural, and political institutions in the island’s history.
