Madbasa, Qal'at al-Bahrain, Bahrain

Madbasa, used to collect date juice for making date honey, at Qal'at al-Bahrain, or Bahrain Fort or Portuguese Fort, built 6th century AD, once the capital of the Dilmun Civilisation, near Manama in Bahrain. In the madbasa, lined parallel channels were cut into the floor and dates piled on top so that the molasses, used as a sweetener, could be squeezed out by heat and pressure, and collected in earthenware jars. The site consists of a tell or artificial mound 12m high containing 7 layers of archaeological remains dating from 2300 BC to the 18th century, topped with a medieval fortress. There is evidence of Kassites, Greeks, Portuguese and Persians, with burial sites, fortifications and residential areas. Qal'at al-Bahrain is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Picture by Manuel Cohen

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Al-baa¸¥rayn Al-bahrain Al-burtughal Bahrain Bahraini Bahrein Dates Dilmun Excavated Gulf Honey Mamlakat Molasses Qal At Qalah Ramparts Syrup Tell

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