16/03/2025
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16/03/2025
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KUWAIT CITY, March 16: The National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) announced on Sunday the discovery of an ancient water well on Failaka Island, dating back to the pre-Islamic period and the early Islamic era. The well is notable for its substantial size and the presence of flowing water.
Mohammed bin Redha, Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Antiquities and Museums at the NCCAL, stated that the discovery was made within the courtyard of a large house dating to the 7th and 8th centuries AD. The findings also include rock foundations of a building adjacent to the well, evidence of a large wall enclosing the courtyard, house, and well, as well as pottery remnants estimated to be 1,300 to 1,400 years old, representing both the pre-Islamic and early Islamic periods.
Bin Redha explained that this discovery is part of ongoing excavation efforts by the Kuwaiti-Slovakian archaeological mission, which began in 2019 in the Al-Qusour area. This site, located in the center of Failaka Island, is one of the largest archaeological sites on the island and spans various historical periods, from pre-Islamic times to the early and late Islamic eras.
Dr. Hassan Ashkanani, Professor of Archaeology and Anthropology at Kuwait University, described the discovery as one of the most significant archaeological finds on Failaka Island. He noted that the findings, which date back to the Christian period and the early Islamic era, highlight the cultural activity on the island during that time. Additionally, he revealed the discovery of over 5 kilograms of precious stones, including rubies and purple amethyst, shedding light on the economic activities of the island 1,400 years ago.
Dr. Matej Rutkay, head of the Slovak mission, stated that the focus of the 2025 excavation season will be on the northern part of the Qusur settlement. Previous excavations in this area uncovered the remains of a courtyard and a house believed to have belonged to a wealthy individual of that era.
Rutkay added that the site covers an area of 38 meters in length and 34 meters in width, with the house itself spanning 97 square meters. The newly discovered water well measures 4.5 meters in length and 4 meters in width and is adjacent to a water channel.
The Al-Qusour site is one of the most important and extensive archaeological sites on Failaka Island. It stretches approximately two kilometers from east to west and extends about one kilometer inland to the south. Excavations have revealed the foundations of churches, numerous houses constructed from limestone and mud bricks, as well as gypsum materials, precious stones, and pottery from various historical periods.
