The Pearl Trade.

The article discusses excavations on the shore of the Persian Gulf showing evidence of a natural pearl industry in the Neolithic and Bronze Ages through the 18th century. The author describes the discovery of pearls at archaeological sites near the Persian Gulf, including one at As-Sabiyah in Kuwait. Specific topics include the role of pearls in ancient maritime trade, the excavation of the 18th-19th-century city of Zubarah in Qatar, and other settlements in the region with pearl-based economies.