Qatar Museums (QM) has signed MoUs with Qatar University (QU), York University, a highly established organisation in the field of marine research, and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism in Italy. The agreements will allow the organisations to collaborate in a comprehensive study on Qatar's marine features and underwater archeology.
The partnership will see QM lead a research project with a team of local and international marine archeology experts. The first of its kind in the region, the research will explore the archeological characteristics of Qatar's underwater environment.
In addition to the team of specialised experts, QM will invite relevant community members such as Qatari divers to take part and get a chance to experience and benefit from this significant social and scientific project. There will also be several workshops and training programmes organised in collaboration with local schools and universities.
This research project, which is due to start in the middle of this year, will run for almost five years. Through this project, QM aims to explore Qatar’s underwater environment to help reveal and understand how its marine history has contributed to the country's social and economic behaviours.
QM expects that this study will make new discoveries that will reveal many hidden secrets from the bottom of the sea, which was the region's first source of income and a major route for commercial vessels.
Describing the importance of this project, Mansour bin Ebrahim Al Mahmoud, Chief Executive Officer, Qatar Museums, said: "This project perfectly reflects the leading role that QM is playing in protecting and promoting Qatar's heritage."
Al Mahmoud also highlighted the uniqueness of this project, which is looking at underwater archeological sites instead of the usual on-land sites. He also stated that QM continues to support collaboration with high caliber institutions, such as York University and Qatar University, to help encourage knowledge transfer.
Describing the benefits of the project, Al Mahmoud added: "This study will help provide information and images of Qatar's underwater ecosystem. It will build capabilities for those who are interested in working in the underwater archeological field, as it will contribute to world-class educational programmes. The research will be able to shed light on Qatar and the region’s history, and on the habits and traditions of our ancestors. This partnership brings QM closer to its goal of honouring the traditions of the past, while embracing the future." Dr Hassan bin Rashid Al Derham, President of Qatar University, said: "We are delighted to be partnering with Qatar Museums and York University for this important initiative,that seeks to preserve a significant part of the country's heritage, which will ultimately connect the future generations with the history of their country."
