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The Kuwaiti-Italian mission to

Failaka 2010

Al-Qurainiyah site

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Contents:

1- Project purpose

2- The Team

3- Survey methodology and scientific targets

4- Laboratory organization

5- Preliminary data on survey

a- Finds b- Structures evidences

6- Excavation

7- Preliminary interpretation of the data

8- Future purposes

Kuwaiti Italian Mission Plans

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1- Project purpose:

At the initiative of the Kuwait National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters and following

discussion between the Secretary General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and

Letters, Mr. Bader Al-Rifai, the Assistant Secretary General for Antiquities and Museums

and Engineering Affairs Sector, Mr. Ali Hussain Al-Youha, Director of the Antiquities and

Museums, Mr Shehab Shehab, professor Gian Luca Grassigli of the Perugia University, it

was agreed to start archaeological fieldwork in the site of Qurainyah on Failaka Island,

State of Kuwait under the heading of the Kuwaiti-Italian archaeological mission to Failaka.

The site was already surveyed by an Italian team from Venice University on 1976 and the

results were published on 19841. Afterwards a Slovak equipe made a digital model of the

settlement (ArcGIS platform) through geophysical measurements.2

Our first campaign has been planned from 11th of January to 11th of February 2010. Its

purpose was to make a survey of the whole medieval-islamic site of Qurainyah, starting

from the results of the previous studied made by the above team. Two trenches have been

opened after the end of the survey, to understand the archaeological deposits in relation

with the occupation of the settlement through the centuries.

                                                            1 S.Patitucci, G.Uggeri, Failakah. Insediamenti medievali islamici. Ricerche e scavi nel Kuwait. Rome 1984. 2 Shehab A.H. Shehab, M. Bartik, J. Tirpak, J. Duris, P. Barta, L. Benedikova, M. Bielich, Survey and mapping of Al‐Qurainiyah, Failaka Island, State of Kuwait. Brno 2008. 

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2- The Team

The Italian team is composed by thirteen members, either students or archaeologists,

headed by the scientific direction of Professor Gian Luca Grassigli and by field director

Andrea Di Miceli.

Archaeologists: Students:

Antongirolami Viviana Burnelli Elisa Basciu Giuseppe Cami Federica Gagliardi Patrizia Damiani Linda Laino Raffaele Momi Erika Mariani Michele Melia Francesco Ranieri Serena Salvucci Loris

The whole team is glad to thank the Secretary General of the National Council for Culture,

Arts and Letters, Mr. Bader Al-Rifai, the Assistant Secretary General for Antiquities and

Museums and Engineering Affairs Sector, Mr. Ali Hussain Al-Youha. Particular regards to

Director of the Antiquities and Museums, Mr Shehab Shehab for the chance given to us

and Mr.Khaled Al-Ali, Mr. Talal Al-Saie and Mr. Nasser Al-Faras for the logistic support in

the compound.

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3- Survey methodology and scientific targets

The survey started dividing the enclosed archaeological area of Qurainiyah (about 6200 m²)

in a grid, made up by units measuring 20x20 m. The vertices of these units, physically

represented in the site through pegs, are named with a combination of letters and numbers,

ranging from maximum -2 to 10 (from south to north, which is to the coast line) and from A

to W (from west to east). Each unit is identified from the acronym reported to the north-west

peg, in the way exemplified below (see plan 1 attached).

We planned to adopt this method for the fieldwork because we needed to cover the whole

area without exclusions, and also we had to refer with absolute precision archaeological

finds, visible in huge quantity on the entire surface of the area, to their spatial positioning

inside the settlement of Qurainiyah. Finally we wanted to report these elements and their

chronology to architectural remains, lithic heaps, crop marks and soil changes recorded

during the recent project of survey and mapping of the Slovak mission (see above, note 2)

and the previous systematic survey carried out by the Italian mission in 1976 (see above,

note 1), with the aim of attributing a chronology (even if rough) for each sector of settlement

of Qurainiyah.

An 8 members-team was formed, with a distance of 2,5 m. between each other, with the

purpose of scanning the ground all around, walking along north-south stripes into each unit,

beginning from the south-west corner of the area, corresponding to the A1 unit. To start the

survey, each member of the team was given a bag where to collect all the archaeological

finds found along the way: any kind of pottery (handmade mud pottery, unglazed ware,

glazed and tin ware, porcelain), finds in glassway, iron or bronze elements, flint and animal

bones.

At this preliminary step of the project, we have decided to pick up all finds we could see on

the surface of the site, modern and contemporary pieces included. Afterwards, when our

knowledge of the archeological traces repertory typical of Kuwait was wider and after

consulting and studying the scientific publications, we proceeded to a selection of the finds.

At the end of the unit, the team reported in a specific schedule all the notes about the unit

just surveyed: soil type, visibility, archaeological evidences (concentration of pottery,

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malachological or ostheological finds; structure; lithic heap, etc.), description, interpretation.

Then all finds picked up by each archaeologist were put together and counted up, divided

into singular classes, and recorded into the apposite schedule (typology, density, etc.). The

final result for each unit was a schedule, named in the same way of the unit (see survey

schedules attached), and a bag identified with this code:

FLK 2010 QURAINIYAH

SURVEY UNIT A1 23/01/10

All the bags were daily brought to the lab for all the operations aimed to the inventory.

Completed the survey in the enclosed area, we decided to extend the survey to the rest of

the site. Even though the south and the east part outside the enclosure are only

characterized by the presence respectively of a farm inside the oasis and of a modern

structure in cement, the territory sector between the cemetery and the west end of the

archeological site is rich in materials.

We have surveyed this area dividing it in four stripes, named J,Z,Y,X, with N-S orientation

and 20 m wide. In this case we have decided to target the finds areas, numbering them

and leaving the finds in situ, because most of the deposits are in relation with an area

probably connected with mudbrick production. ( see plan 1 attached)

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4- Laboratory organization

As the survey, the laboratory was also organized by a supervisor in different phases with

the final purpose of having the finds collected, stored and studied preliminarily.

The finds arrived in the lab already divided per unit, belonging to the survey grid. Firstly

they have been washed and then divided into types and quantified. This step has been

important to get, at the end of the survey, a preliminary idea of the distribution, the quantity

and the density of the material on the whole area.

The third step was making a division of the finds, based on morphological characteristics

of the sherds. Successively the fragments were signed with the code of our mission in

which is present the location and the year of the survey (Flk ’10), the name of the unit from

which the signed sherd belonged (e.g. L2) and the progressive inventory number for each

diagnostic sherd (e.g. 1) was displayed. Basically the extensive acronym we gave is e.g.

Flk’10-L2-1.

We have put a progressive number per unit just to the diagnostics pottery sherds, it means

to the rims, the bottoms, the lids, the handles and the spots, that are the drawables vessel

parts; in fact the bodysherds belonging to the same pottery type and the same unit, have

been counted and put in the same bag with just an inventory number for all. Nevertheless

small finds like nails, coins, bangles, finds in glassway etc. were signed as well; meaning

that every bag corresponds to an inventory number.

After this preliminary work we have digitalized our data making a database of the

materials. We have developed it making a correspondence between every survey unit and

its own schedule.

The basic schedule has been organized to have for each class of materials the information

over diagnostic finds and to gain the main data about each unit, it means the weight, the

quantity and all the inventory numbers (see material schedules attached).

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5- Preliminary data on survey

a- Finds

All the finds picked up during the survey have been collected in three boxes stored in the

computer hall inside the compound.

Most of the finds are pottery fragments but we also found many objects in glassway (like

bangles), other in iron (especially nails), bronze (coins) and flints.

We have divided the pottery in classes, based on their cooking and glazing:

- Handmade mud pottery (homeware):

Few pieces, especially bodysherds, some rims and bottoms, make us understand

that they belong to small opened vessels such as bowls of different diameters. The

ware is often characterized by the presence of white grits and very small shells.

- Unglazed pottery: Most of the fragments picked up during the survey belong to this class of material.

The ware has different colors and is often characterized by the presence of white

grits and gravel of different colors. The fragments belong especially to storage jars,

cooking pots and basins and lids.

- Incised pottery: This class belongs to the unglazed type; it includes especially basins and jars. Most

of the wares contain white and black big grits, similar to that one of the red slip ware

(see below). If it wasn’t because of the slip, lost with time, Incised Pottery and Red

Slip ware could have belonged to the same class. Wavy, – comb. – and string

decoration is present especially on the body and in just a rim of the vessels and

always in the external surface.

In few cases we have found fragments with finger-impressed decoration in the

upper part of the body.

- Red slip ware: This kind of pottery is characterized by the presence of a thin red slip. In some

cases we can find a bicolor slip (red and black), and in others just black. We

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suggest that the original slip could be red and during the cooking processes

changed into other colors. For this reason on the material schedule attached we

have preliminarily divided the relating fragments into three classes (red, black and

red/black slip ware). This coating is present either inside or outside.

The wares contain white and black big grits, most are brownish and in some cases

reddish or dark brownish.

The fragments belong to cooking pots, jugs and basins.

- Glazed ware:

The ware is well depurated and the coating is distinguishable in three main types

based on the coating color: turquoise, green and yellow.

Most of the fragments are turquoises and belong to bowls, plates and some jugs

with the typical footed base. The coating is present inside/outside the vessels and is

often damaged by depositional phenomena.

Few pieces belong to the green glazed, represented by bowls and juglets.

The yellow one has three different tonalities of coating: one is bright yellow, another

more brownish and the third one olive. This last one is very well known by scientific

bibliography, developed since 17th century and produced in Oman and Iran districts.

The main difference between turquoise/green glazed ware and yellow glazed ware

is about the shape of the vessels as the yellow one includes even storage jars.

A lot of fragments of every color have holes for repairs and for hanging up.

- Tin Glazed ware: Few pieces with well creamy depurated ware, usually painted in brown and green

with geometrical and floral decoration, especially painted on the rims and on the

inside part of the bottoms of bowls.

- Porcelain: We have picked up all kinds of porcelain found in the site, either modern or ancient.

The fragments are either monochromes or polychromes. The main colors used for

painting decoration on them are blue and red. Usually are small cups and plates.

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- Bangles: Glass class is represented almost exclusively by bangles. These bracelets are in

black glassway with different diameters and sections (circular or flat). One is

polychrome in red, yellow and green.

- Other finds: Some bronze fragments probably from clothing or hair decoration, three small

bronze coins with different shapes. Some iron nails and other fragments in

glassway such as colored beads and some mudbricks.

All the survey materials should be referred to Late Islamic Period (XVI-XIX cent. a.D.)

b- Structures evidences The activities of topographical documentation have begun and constantly developed in

symbiosis with the work of survey of Qurainyiah area.

The first phase was the creation – utilizing Total Station - of a system of reference made of

coordinates within which was possible to work freely, subject to the specific work

requirements. Such prerogative has been ensured across the positioning of eight

topographical nails, cemented to the ground. After a careful analysis of the archaeological

enclosed area, we have decided to locate three nails in the western part of the site (1000,

2000, 3000) direction S-N; other three of them in the central part (4000, 5000, 6000)

direction N-S; and finally two of them in the eastern part (7000 and 8000) direction S-N

(see plan 2 attached). Such positioning guarantees an optimal level of precision within the

inquired area and ensures the possibility to extend the work we have taken, starting from

these fixed points.

During the second phase we have realized the chequerwork of the enclosed area and, in

order to have a regular grid within it, we completed a precise and punctual survey. The

grid is composed by 186 squares, each side measuring 20 m (see plan 1 attached).

In the third phase we have carried out the plane-altimetric development of the morphology

of the ground, allowing the determination of the different contour line that characterize the

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area: from 0,00 m. on the sea level, the soil reached the highest level of 7 m. on the sea

level (see plan 3 attached).

The last step was digitalizing the plans and the orientations of the structures located during

the survey using Total Station and AutoCad. It is possible to recognize in these structures

complex buildings and walls apparently isolated, but both these cases represent two

important details for a preliminary interpretation of the topographic development of

Qurainiyah settlement. In parallel to the above work we have located and digitalized the

extensions of a huge concentration of building material. Such anomalies, apparently

looses, could represent sensible areas within which investigate with archaeological

excavations (see plan 4 attached).

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6- Excavation

After the survey, as we didn’t have a lot of time to dig, we have decided to open two

trenches in the west part of the archaeological area: the first (trench I, 5X5 wide) has been

opened in correspondence of the NE corner of the biggest structure (N. 1) identified, inside

unit C4, the second (trench II, 4X4 wide) is located in unit D6m (see plan 5 attached).

The position of trench I, has been chosen for many reasons: firstly, to understand the way

the structure has been built and secondly, to investigate the stratigraphy inside and

outside the structure.

For trench II we have decided to dig in an area void of structure but with a huge presence

of archaeological materials, trying to have a preliminary idea of the soil layers sequence

and starting to elaborate a temporary matrix.

Trench I :

The first step of the archeological excavation has been the removal of the SU 0 layer, a

sandy stratum with grass. This operation has permitted to identify two different walls

structures with perpendicular link: the first one (SSU 5) had E-W orientation: the second

one, instead, N-S development. Both structures have been built in the same way, with

irregular little stones linked with sand mortar and installed in an irregular way without

horizontal courses.

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Inside and outside structure n. 1 we have found different sandy layers with malacological

elements, ash and charcoal. SSUU 1,2,3,6,7,8 are natural levels developed probably after

the end of the site occupation.

Layers SSUU 4 and 9, not already dug, could be considered as collapse of the perimeter

walls of the building. The surface of layers shows, in fact, clear elements that suggest this

hypothesis: for example, dissolved mortar and flakes irregular stones.

Trench II:

We have started to remove the superficial layer SU 0 (humus). After the superficial

cleaning of the surface we have marked the layer number 51, characterized by a huge

concentration of ash, charcoal and bones, mixed with the sandy soil. The color of the

layer was brownish and, during the excavation we also have found fragments of glass,

bronze and pottery and some fragments of modern glass bottles. All the above

mentioned elements were present in the entire surface of the trench and they were,

maybe, in relation with the last human activity of the site. The SU 51 had a depth of

about 60 cm. Afterwards we have done all the concerning documentation: plans, levels,

pictures and sections with NS and EW direction. This kind of operations have been made

for all the SSUU of the

trench.

After the total

removing of SU 51 we

have recognized

traces of ash and

charcoal spread in

different parts of the

trench and we have

decided to mark this

layer with same

number (SU 53). During the excavation we have found a lot of malacological and

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ostheological finds mixed with ash and charcoal. We also have uncovered fragments of

pottery, especially unglazed and turquoise glazed ware. This layer had a grey color and it

was located over SU 52 surface, in different stains of many sizes.

Afterwards the removing of SU 53, we have decided to restrict the excavation area to the

score of the bad weather also for a better understanding of the complicated situation of the

stratrigraphy, composed by close and similar layers. We choose to investigate the south

east corner (2mx2m) of the trench, the most interesting part by reason of the presence of

regular traces of ash and charcoal mixed with bones and shells. Inside this restricted area

we proceeded with the dig of the SU number 52 (covered by SU 53), constituted by middle

yellow sand with light traces of ash. During the excavation we found fragments of pottery

and glass with point of major concentration of bones, most of fishes.

The depth of the layer was about 25 cm, and under that we have found a complicated

stratigraphy situation with an alternation of layers of ash without inclusion and stains of

ash and charcoal with fragments of raising bones and shells. We have given a number to

every spots (SSUU 54;55;56;57;58).

According to the results from the two little soundings, we have reached these preliminary

conclusions.

In Trench I, we can read the stratigraphy related to the phase of the latest occupation of

the settlement, probably established according to the material chronology in the late

Islamic period.

In the Trench II, the layers sequence is maybe referred to human activities during the

time, such as dumps of materials.

Typology of pottery fragments found in SU 52 seems different than those picked up in

the surface of the site during the survey, either in shapes or wares; in particular, we’ve

found two pieces of a bowl (bottom) probably belonging to the Raqqa Ware, already

recognized in Al-Qusur settlement during the survey project of University of Venice in the

70’s. This class of pottery was spread between the end of XXIIth and the beginning of

XIIIth century a.D. However, in order to get to the right conclusion and chronology, we

need to study this material further.

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7- Preliminary interpretation of the data  

The survey and the following lab job (pottery and other finds classification) made us to

come to preliminary conclusions.

About the topography, the highest density area coincides exactly with the upper part of the

site, where it’s possible to recognize most of the structures present in the settlement; the

material percentage distribution graphic shows a perfect correspondence between the

huge pottery concentrations areas and structures, interpreted as habitations.

We can recognize the borders of the settlement with the completely absence of pottery or

its lacking. In fact in the north, until the shoreline, and in the south of the enclosure, until

the oasis and the farm, we think we have found the end of the site of Qurainiyah, while in

the west stripe, between the enclosure and the cemetery, it’s possible to distinguish two

huge finds areas, even if without structures, that could mean the continuity of the

settlement.

In the west part of the site, from about 60 m inside the enclosure until the Portuguese fort,

there are no finds and there’s just a modern structure in cement close to the

archaeological site and in front of the shoreline.

In two cases we have discovered two wide material concentrations, one in the west part of

the hill that is characterized by the presence of a lot of structures, and the other one in the

south part. These concentrations could be explained as intentional dumps, composed by

ash, charcoal, pottery and food scraps mixed with sand.

Concerning to the structural evidences, the housing units are made up by only one room;

in the marginal areas there are bigger houses, with more rooms and a more complex plan.

Trench n. I made us understand in detail the plan of Structure n. 1, which walls were

already cleaned and exposed in their total development: a squared plan with internal

rooms located around a courtyard. Probably the walls of this building were made up by

mudbricks installed over a base of stones linked by sand mortar.

These few results will be the point of start for the future campaigns, that surely will make

us to understand better the characteristics of the topography and the chronology of

Qurainiyah settlement.

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8- Future purposes

- Extending trench I to the whole structure nr. 1;

- Extending trench II to all unit D6;

- Opening other trenches in hot points of the site, such as the other huge fragments

area (unit N1); the M5-M6 units, including the structure nr. 26; the east limit of the

site, to understand the real extension of the settlement, and outside the west part of

the enclosure, where we have found a big concentration of mudbricks, probably

connected to a production area;

- Contextualizing the site of Qurainiyah within the medieval Islamic/Cristian

settlement net of the island, picking up a selection of pottery and other finds from

each site and comparing each other, trying to fix an Islamic occupation chronology; - Marking a section passing from Qurainiyah to Al-Qusur to understand the

topographic development of the ground in this part of the island;

- Restoring structures and pottery and making analysis of the wares.

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KUWAITI ITALIAN MISSION 2010

Gian Luca Grassigli (Scientific Director)

Andrea Di Miceli (Field Director)

Michele Mariani (Supervisor)

Francesco Melia (Supervisor)

Raffaele Laino (Supervisor)

Giuseppe Basciu (Supervisor)

Viviana Antongirolami (Supervisor)

Loris Salvucci (Archaeologist)

Patrizia Gagliardi (Archaeologist)

Serena Ranieri (Archaeologist)

Linda Damiani (Student)

Elisa Burnelli (Student)

Federica Cami (Student)

Erika Momi (Student)

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Plan 1

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Plan 2

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Plan 3

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Plan 4

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Plan 5

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Plan 6