Well-hidden between Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Highway and the town of Saar, the remains of a 4,000 years old settlement lie silently, only 10 kilometers away from the ultra-modern skyscrapers of the capital. Officially named Saar Archaeological Site, the ruins belong to an ancient townlet built by a group of merchants at a time when the whole area was part of the Dilmun Civilization, a pre-Islamic culture that spanned across the gulf region.

The site was discovered in the late 1970’s, and later excavations revealed myriads of artifacts, including copper hooks, shells and tiny pearls, all of which serve as evidence to the settlement’s role as a major trading center. The town, which was inhabited for roughly 200 years, consists of dozens of 2-3 room houses lined along a main street that branches into several smaller alleyways. The highest point of elevation across the old settlement is home to Saar Dilmun Temple, where, according to archeologists, the summer solstice was celebrated.

On the southern outskirts of the site lies the town’s burial complex. Otherwise known as the honeycomb cemetery for its series of neatly interconnected graves, the millennia-old necropolis was formerly the last resting place for the merchants and their family members who lived less than 500 meters away.

Whether it is the secluded location, sheer anonymity or the modest number of travelers who visit the country, the site is rarely frequented by tourists. Following a short desert walk past a smattering of Shawarma food trucks along Avenue 27, you’ll reach the site’s entrance which is marked by an English-Arabic sign and a sole large tree.

As you wander throughout the ruins, you’ll be greeted by a guard as well as a group of stray dogs, who will enthusiastically follow each and every step of yours with friendly barks. Thanks to the area’s high elevation, the ancient ruins also unintentionally serve as a scenic point, from where one can gaze at Manama’s futuristic skyline.

A couple of food trucks, from where a 10-minute walk in a straight line will get you to the site

photography by: Omri Westmark

The entrance, marked by a bilingual sign and a large lone tree

photography by: Omri Westmark

A distant view of the ancient townlet

photography by: Omri Westmark

A group of stray, yet friendly dogs, will follow you along your visit here

photography by: Omri Westmark

Some of the 2-3 room houses that once constituted the settlement

photography by: Omri Westmark

The well-preserved walls of a Dilmun house

photography by: Omri Westmark

Most of the homes face an inner square that merges with an alleyway

photography by: Omri Westmark

If you look closely, you'll notice the blue and yellow IKEA store that reminds us all in which era are we currently living in

photography by: Omri Westmark

The height of the walls varies drastically between the many buildings across the site

photography by: Omri Westmark

A few pillars and walls are all that remains of the Dilmun Temple, situated at the settlement's highest point of elevation

photography by: Omri Westmark

The ancient houses are somewhat contrasted by the modern homes of Saar, standing only a kilometer away

photography by: Omri Westmark

A walkway that leads to the site's burial complex, located south of the settlement itself

photography by: Omri Westmark

The cemetery consists of dozens of interconnected tombs

photography by: Omri Westmark