By Shahed Kamal
KUWAIT, April 4 (KUNA) -- Remains of an ancient mosque has been discovered on Failaka island, one of several islands dotting Kuwait's territorial waters.
Agnieszka Binkowska, head of a Polish expedition of excavators, said the historic site was located in the village of "Kharayeb Al-Desht." Kuwaiti and Polish archeologists discovered the 200 square meter mosque, including four large columns, each of a 1.5-meter length, that had been erected to support the ceiling, said Dr. Binkowska in an interview with Kuwaiti News Agency (KUNA).
There are also two mihrabs, one of a one m width and 1.5 m depth, and the smaller one measured 0.7 m in width and 04 m in depth.
Dr. Binkowska said the excavators are seeking to determine when the old mosque was last used.
"Kharayeb Al-Desht" is situated on the northern shore of the island. The ancient site was first pin pointed by an Italian expedition in 1976. Remains at the location are thought to belong to Islamic rules in the 16th century.
The Kuwaiti-Polish team of excavators have found remains of two ancient houses, more than 100 clay ovens and stone items indicating that the old settlers depended on the sea to make a living.
Dr. Binkowska said in the interview with KUNA that exploration kicked off at the small village, in 2013, by the Kuwaiti-Polish team -- with participation by the head of the relics and museums department Dr. Sultan Al-Deweish, the relics monitor from the National Council of Culture, Arts and Letters, Dr. Hamed Al-Mutairi.
Dr. Al-Mutairi said that the old mosque had been built with refined stone, onto a secluded elevation overlooking the beach. It had been renovated several times, he observed.
The "sixth season" for the Kuwaiti-Polish team works started in middle of March at "Kharayeb Al-Desht," he said, as part of a cooperation agreement between the Polish expedition and the national council for culture.
This old village had witnessed birth of the renowned scholar, Othman bin Sanad bin Rashed Al-Waeli, in the second half of the 18th century.
Failaka hosts historic treasures belonging to diverse ancient civilians, including the Dilmun.
There are several ancient sites on the Kuwaiti mainland and on the islands in the country's territorial waters. (end) sk.rk