Event: Bahrain - Manama

Bahrain National Museum

When:	Daily
Where:	Bahrain National Museum
Costs:	500 fils; children under 13 free
Opening Hours:	Daily 10am-7pm

The BD13-million Bahrain National Museum, set on the East Corniche, tells Bahrain's fascinating story through various exhibits, most notably artefacts from the ancient civilisation of Dilmun, a burial mound transferred from the desert and a showcase of Bahraini customs.

Bahrain's National Museum is a non-profit institution run by the Ministry for Culture, dedicated to the island's history and culture. Over 7000 years of history is explored through sculpture and ceramics, reconstructed burial mounds, Arabic calligraphy and illuminated Korans. Exhibits are marked in both Arabic and English. The different periods of Bahrain's history are examined - from Dilmun (ancient pre-Babylonians circa 3000BC) and Tylos (ancient Greek circa 300BC) to the Islamic period (from the 7th century AD to the present day).

No explanation of Bahrain's history would be complete without reference to the boat-building traditions of the country. Dhow-making has been a Bahraini industry for centuries, while pearl diving dates back millennia. Beside the parking lot there are a number of reconstructed traditional buildings and boats. One of these exhibits is a reconstructed souk from the 1930s, showing the many traditional crafts which were common on the island and are still found today, albeit to a lesser extent.