Failaka Island contender for UNESCO World Heritage sites

KUWAIT, June 22 (KUNA) -- UNESCO agreed to include Failka Island as one of the contenders for the list of World Heritage sites, said an official from the National Council for Culture Arts and Letters (NCCAL) here Saturday.
Secretary General of NCCAL Ali Al-Youha told KUNA that the approval came at the 37th UNESCO's General Assembly held in Cambodia.
Al-Youha said that he was glad to hear the news in regards to the nomination of Failaka, hoping that the Island would be included in the list.
The Island of Failaka has many archaeological finds among them ancient houses, a temple, and the ruins of a palace all dating to the Bronze Age and to the Dilmun civilization (3000 B.C.). Ancient statues, weapons such as swords, seals and stamps and pendants made of beads and a fort belonging to Alexander the Great have also been discovered on the Island.
The Island was a gathering point that brought together the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and those of the Arabian Peninsula and in recent years, a number of distinguished centers of learning, research, and universities carried out archaeological excavations in Failaka to uncover more of the Island's history.
The UNESCO World Heritage sites panel made up of representatives from 21 countries that vet all the applications for sites enlistment.
Once a site is approved by the panel for enlistment, it would stay on the list for a period of four years only. (end) yt.gta KUNA 221356 Jun 13NNNN