Archeologists discover 4000 years old Temple

KUWAIT: Archaeologists in Kuwait have discovered a 4,000-year-old temple belonging to the Dilmun civilization on Failaka Island. Officials have termed the discovery as one of the biggest archaeological discoveries in decades, Al Qabas reported.

The National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) made the announcement on Sunday. The temple was discovered by a joint Kuwaiti–Danish team of the Moesgaard Museum during the 2025 excavation season.

Two Ancient Temples on the Same Site

Mohammed bin Redha, Acting Assistant Secretary-General for NCCAL’s Antiquities and Museums Sector, explained that the team excavated the complete plan of a Bronze Age temple buried underneath another Dilmun temple discovered last year. Both temples are around 4,000 years old, proving that two religious buildings were constructed on the same site, on top of each other.

He further said that the NCCAL still backs excavation, restoration, and research programs to help maintain Kuwait’s ancient past.

New Light on Dilmun Belief

The excavations were carried out to the east of the Dilmun palace and temple at Tell F6, an ancient mound associated with early Dilmun times.

Dr. Stefan Larsson, leader of the Danish mission, explained that previously excavated sites had uncovered pieces of a temple platform dating back to about 1900 BCE. The recently discovered building underneath it held foundations, seals, and pottery vessels. He stated the discovery is a huge leap in knowing the religious practices of Dilmun.

“Remarkable Archaeological Milestone”

Kuwait University archaeologist Dr. Hassan Ashkanani described the find as “a remarkable archaeological milestone.” The fact that two temples date back to 1900–1800 BCE, he said, sheds new light on the religious and civic architecture of ancient Dilmun.

The find brings the number of known temples in the island’s southwest to four. Researchers think this region was once a significant administrative and spiritual hub during the Bronze Age.

Ongoing Research

Dr. Ole Herslund, the excavation supervisor since 2022, explained that the researchers will now study the two temples in depth — from architecture to rituals — to better understand how Dilmun’s religious and political systems influenced the island life.

Failaka Island, 20 kilometers off Kuwait’s coast, was a prosperous center of the Dilmun civilization, which thrived throughout the Gulf during the Bronze Age.