Archaeology, from the earliest times, including the Dilmunperiod for which Bahrain is particularly important, downto the advent of Islam.The Islamic Period, from the Revelation to the arrival ofthe Portuguese in the Gulf, in the late sixteenth century AD. the last two hundred Modern Bahrain, covering in particularyears of the State's history. Conservation of monuments and ancient buildings, reflectingthe Government's concern with Bahrain's architectural heritage.From the early third millennium BC, (in other words, nearly5,000 years ago) Bahrain was the centre of the world's trade,as it was then. The island was the seat of a flourishingculture, with contacts as far abroad as Sumer in the North,Egypt in the West and the Indus Valley in the South. Theevidences of this and of continuous occupation throughoutsubsequent periods in Bahrain's history are still to be seenthrough the principal island's tombs, temples and city sites. The Organisation of the Conference The Conference will be divided into two simultaneous sessions,morning and afternoon, throughout its duration. Time will,however, be provided for delegates to visit the island'smany archaeological sites and places of exceptional historicalinterest. The Organising Committee for the Conference is under theChairmanship of H.E. Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalid Al-Khalifa,the Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs. Its othermembers are H.E. Mr. Yousef Shirawi, Minister of Developmentand Acting Minister for Cabinet Affairs, H.E. Dr. Ali Fakhroo,Minister of Education, and H.E. Mr. Tariq Al Moyyad, theMinister of Information. The Ministry of Information isresponsible for the organisation of the Conference throughout.
