The ancient bricks of the Bahrain Fort continue to tell a story that spans millennia, holding invaluable artifacts that serve as a testament to the prosperous trade along the Maritime Silk Road. Bahrain, the smallest country in the Middle East, is home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Bahrain Fort (Qal'at al-Bahrain) near the country's capital, Manama. Archaeological research shows that the fort contains relics from six different civilizations. Dilmun civilization, which emerged around 3000 B.C. and became a key hub linking Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley and Magan. Excavations over the past 70 years have revealed only about 25 percent of the site. Among the discoveries are Chinese copper coins from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) and fragments of blue-and-white porcelain, offering evidence of cultural exchange along the Maritime Silk Road. Today, the Bahrain Fort stands as both a reminder of the country's ancient past and a symbol of its openness to cultural exchange. Shotlist: Bahrain - Recent: 1. Aerial shots of Bahrain Fort, national flag of Bahrain; 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Salman Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Mahari, Director, Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (starting with shot 1/ending with shot 3): "Bahrain Fort site is the most important archaeological site in Bahrain. This site was inscribed in the World Heritage List at UNESCO [in] 2025."; 3. Various of Bahrain Fort; 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Salman Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Mahari, Director, Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (partially overlaid with shot 5): "This site was the capital of Dilmun civilization, covering Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain. The center was here in Bahrain, and the Dilmunite people were trading with other civilizations."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 5. Aerial shot of Bahrain Fort; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 6. Various of exhibits; 7. Various of fragments of Chinese porcelain, Chinese copper coins; 8. Various of Bahrain Fort. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]