Preliminary report on the archaeological survey of the jointKuwaiti–Polish Mission, Failaka Island, 2012

An extensive archaeological prospection along the coasts of Failaka recorded over180 sites, different stone structures, surface pottery assemblages, farms and enclosures. These wereregistered, documented and mapped. Stone by stone plans were drawn up of a number of substantialstructures that were cleaned and some general observations were made. All prospected and cleanedstructures proved to be built of local ashlar sandstone straight on solid ground or bedrock. Allkinds of mortar and plaster was used for building construction. Flat stones of similar dimensionswere carefully selected. Buildings were neatly designed with entrances always in the middle of thefront wall. Archaeological sites of Al-Sabbahiya, Um al-Dakhan, Matitah, Kharaib el-Desht witha density of different historical structures dating from the mid- and late Islamic period are found inthe southern regions of Failaka Island.