Ancient Christian monastery found in Bahrain - in pictures

  • The site of a Christian building discovered under the ruins of an ancient mosque in Muharraq, Bahrain. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    The site of a Christian building discovered under the ruins of an ancient mosque in Muharraq, Bahrain. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • This wall was found under an ancient mosque in the middle of a Muslim graveyard in Muharraq. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    This wall was found under an ancient mosque in the middle of a Muslim graveyard in Muharraq. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • A living area, kitchen and workshops in a Christian home that likely belonged to a bishop dating back to the fourth century. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    A living area, kitchen and workshops in a Christian home that likely belonged to a bishop dating back to the fourth century. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Teams will resume excavations and dig deeper into the site this month. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Teams will resume excavations and dig deeper into the site this month. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Experts at the archeological site have uncovered the first concrete evidence that Christianity existed in Bahrain before the spread of Islam. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Experts at the archeological site have uncovered the first concrete evidence that Christianity existed in Bahrain before the spread of Islam. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • The archeological site is inside a cemetery where families still come to pray for the departed. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    The archeological site is inside a cemetery where families still come to pray for the departed. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • The excavation project began in 2019. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    The excavation project began in 2019. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Across the burial ground are wooden plaques with inscriptions in memory of those who have passed away. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Across the burial ground are wooden plaques with inscriptions in memory of those who have passed away. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Dr Salman Al Mahari, director of archaeology and museums at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities in Manama, says work will resume aiming to find more treasures of the past. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Dr Salman Al Mahari, director of archaeology and museums at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities in Manama, says work will resume aiming to find more treasures of the past. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • A small glazed pottery piece with the mark of a cross found at the excavation site. Photo: Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities
    A small glazed pottery piece with the mark of a cross found at the excavation site. Photo: Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities
  • Experts from the UK's Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies of the University of Exeter with a Bahraini team excavating the site. Photo: Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities
    Experts from the UK's Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies of the University of Exeter with a Bahraini team excavating the site. Photo: Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities
  • A closer view of the excavation site that uncovered a Christian dwelling under a 300-year-old mosque in Bahrain. Photo: Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities
    A closer view of the excavation site that uncovered a Christian dwelling under a 300-year-old mosque in Bahrain. Photo: Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities
  • An aerial view of an excavation site. Photo: Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities
    An aerial view of an excavation site. Photo: Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities