31 May 2014
Hatem Arrok at work excavating ancient fossils in the desert of Qatar
In this 2014 interview, archaeologist Hatem Arrok, who works on urban and historical excavations in and around Doha, discusses his project sites and findings and why Qatar’s archaeological heritage is so important.
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The excavation of fossils in the deserts of Qatar
Hatem Arrok taking part in the excavation process
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art invites visitors to experience a world-class collection of modern and contemporary art.
The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) gives voice to Qatar’s rich heritage and culture. We welcome diverse communities to our vibrant and immersive space to come together to experience Qatar’s past, present and future.
A centre of knowledge and inspiration that illuminates the world of Islamic art
Fire Station is a contemporary art space located in the heart of Doha and is committed to supporting artists, curators and the wider public through our residencies and public programmes.
Established by Qatar Museums under the leadership of Her Excellency Sheikha Al-Mayassa, M7 responds to the demands of Qatar’s growing fashion and design industries and is dedicated to empowering designers to explore, collaborate, and develop successful businesses.
M7 provides local designers with all the necessary tools and expertise to enable them to take their ideas from concept to market.
Discover more about Liwan. From its iconic mid-century building and history to its facilities and programmes.
The 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum is the world’s most sophisticated museum dedicated to sport. Visit today to enjoy interactive exhibits, inspiring stories and fun activities that celebrate sports culture within Qatar and beyond.
Open 24 hours a day, MIA Park is the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon picnic or a sunset stroll, complemented by family-friendly activities and engaging public artworks.
The site houses 119 flags representing nations with diplomatic missions in Qatar, as well as the European flag, the United Nations flag and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) flag; it also plays host to festivals, celebrations and other community events.
Qatar Museums Gallery – Al Riwaq is a temporary exhibition space that hosts an exciting roster of ambitious projects.
Qatar Museums Gallery – Katara was founded in 2010 as a space for temporary exhibitions and public art projects.
The Al Najadah community will comprise creatives and entrepreneurs who aspire to learn from one another and form partnerships, while showcasing their work for the world to see.
Originally intended for defense purposes, Zekreet Fort was built by tribal leader Rahma bin Jaber Al Jalahmah, entirely of faroush stones, or beach rocks. The fort followed a rectangular plan and towers were added in a later stage to its four corners to further strengthen its structure. Small structures, among which are three madabis (date-pressing rooms), were discovered by archaeologists between the fort and the sea.
The Barzan Towers are located about 20 km north of Doha in the village of Umm Salal Mohammed, which was developed in 1910 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Jassim Al Thani. Earlier towers may have existed at the site throughout the nineteenth century.
Rock carvings, or petroglyphs, can be found at a dozen sites around the coast of Qatar. However, the greatest number of carvings can be found at Al Jassasiya, some 60 km north of Doha, on low limestone hills. Discovered in 1957, the site was systematically studied in 1974, when nearly 900 carved single figures and compositions were catalogued.
Al Zubarah is Qatar’s largest archaeological heritage site. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013 and is the best-preserved example of an eighteenth – nineteenth century trading and pearl fishing town in the Gulf region. Unlike its contemporaries, it is largely intact and has not been lost beneath the region’s vast modern cities.
This was the most populated region of Qatar in the 18th and 19th centuries due to its proximity to the sea and Bahrain, a regional trade centre. The exact date of the construction of Al Rekayat is yet to be determined, but archaeological evidence suggests that it could go back to the mid-18th century, when nearby Al Zubarah was thriving.
Extending along the coastline of northwest Qatar for some 2.5 km, Al Ruwaida was inhabited from about the 16th through the 18th centuries. The settlement incorporated a large, central fort, two mosques, a boatyard, and merchants’ warehouses.
The Old Palace was built in the early 20th century by Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, who is today considered to be the father of modern Qatar. For around a decade, the palace was at the centre of Qatar’s political leadership, serving as the residence of the ruler of Qatar and his family and the seat of government.
In 1975 the palace was converted into the Qatar National Museum, which included a Museum of the State, a lagoon and a popular marine aquarium. In 1980 the adaptation of the Old Palace as a museum won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
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