New French-Kuwaiti Archaeological Mission of Failaka devoted to the study of the Fortress and the Hellenistic Site.

Franco-Kuwaiti cooperation in the field of archaeology and heritage was recently strengthened with the signing of a new agreement between the National Council of Culture, Arts and Letters and Mathilde Gelin (research fellow at the Arscan-CNRS laboratory, associated with CEFREPA). This agreement concerns the preservation of the Hellenistic fortress and the study of the site, which is the strongest witness to the presence of Hellenistic culture in the Gulf region.

The CEFREPA is delighted with the increase in the number of French archaeological missions in Kuwait, and with the existence, from now on, of two teams working, one on the site of al-Qusûr and the other on the site of the Hellenistic fortress. The establishment of this mission will enable French researchers to continue their work on the Hellenistic period in the Gulf, of which Failaka is the only major witness to date.

The mission is dedicated to what the Greeks “on Alexander’s orders” called “Ikaros” when they saw Failaka, as reported by the historian Arrian. It focused on studying the culture that would emerge on the island following the installation of a garrison of Alexander the Great’s army there, and the establishment of a branch of the Seleucid dynasty that would develop a culture at the crossroads of East and West. The result was a major ethnic and cultural melting pot, the traces of which are still visible on the site. The mission will focus on these aspects and, above all, on preserving and safeguarding the remains, in order to enhance the value of this exceptional heritage. In synergy with the National Council of Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) and the Department of Antiquities and Museums, this new mission will enrich scientific and cultural cooperation between France and Kuwait.