The Kuwait-British Archaeological Expedition to As-Sabiyah: Report on the Fourth Season's Work

Abstract

The second season of excavation at the Ubaid-related site of H3 took place in October 1999 and lasted for four weeks. The site lies on a low peninsula, the Jazirat Dubaij, at the north end of Kuwait bay. The work was carried out jointly by the British Archaeological Expedition to Kuwait and a team from the National Museum of Kuwait under the direction of Dr Fahad al Wohaibi. The work of the Expedition was made possible by the generosity of many people and it is a pleasure to be able to acknowledge the help of Dr al Rumayhi, Secretary General of the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters; vital sponsorship from Shell Kuwait Ltd initiated by its general manager, Dr Ken Taylor, who has been an invaluable friend to the Expedition; financial support from the British School of Archaeology in Iraq; the assistance of the National Museum of Kuwait in providing accommodation and food and in paying for workmen; academic sponsorship from the Institute of Archaeology UCL, and friendly support from the British Embassy and the British Council in Kuwait. Our special thanks are due to the Ambassador, to Col. the Hon. Alastair Campbell, the Defence Attache, and to the members of the RAF squadron who took aerial photographs of the site for us. The main objectives for the second season of excavation were as follows: to define the large stone structure identified last season on the highest part of the mound (Carter et al. 1999) and to begin its excavation (Area A); to continue work in the other two areas sampled in 1998 (Area B) to the west of the mound, and Area F around the Iraqi dug-out or “foxhole” to the south (Fig. 1) and to collect a representative sample of the environmental data. In addition, it was hoped to determine the position of the ancient coastline south of the site and to complete the survey of the Jazirat Dubaij.