KUWAIT, Nov 7 (KUNA) -- The National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters (NCCAL) signed Tuesday a cooperation agreement with the French Archaeological Mission to carry out archaeological surveying and excavations in Failaka Island.
NCCAL's Secretary-General Dr. Ali Al-Youha and the Director of the French-Kuwaiti Archaeological Mission Dr. Julie Bonneric at NCCAL's headquarters signed the agreement.
As per the agreement, the excavation works will concentrate on the sites of Hellenistic castle and Al-Qusor in the Kuwaiti Island, NCCAL's Secretariat-General said in a statement.
The 17-point agreement requires the French mission to follow Kuwaiti laws, including the Amiri Decree No. 1 of 1960 on archaeology, throughout their work period in the Island.
It also requires the mission to restore and renovate discovered antiques and monuments, train and prepare the Kuwaiti team taking part in the mission's operations, and submit a detailed list on all discovered items following each excavation in both sites.
The French mission is also required to submit a final study on the sites, viable for scientific publication in English language, after two years of carrying out final excavation in the Island.
Dr. Bonneric, also a member of the French Institute for the Near East, has written an important booklet for researchers and readers on all historical sites inside Failaka island, including castles, churches, and other Christian-related monuments that date back between 600 and 900 AD. (end) shd.ma