The Zayed National Museum, the national museum of the UAE, is set to open soon, showcasing the country's rich history, culture, and stories from ancient times to the present day. The museum aims to honor the legacy of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and will feature a reconstructed Bronze Age boat as one of its exhibit highlights. This boat, known as the Magan Boat, was reconstructed with the help of a team of shipbuilders from Kerala, India.

Since the project began in 2021, over 20 specialists from various fields, including archaeology, anthropology, digital humanities, shipbuilding, engineering, and science, have collaborated to bring the boat to life. Students from Zayed University and New York University Abu Dhabi also contributed to the project. During the sea trials, two Emirati captains led a 17-man crew.

Dr. Emma Thompson, Acquisition and Commission Unit Head at the Zayed National Museum, emphasizes the importance of experimental archaeology. She explains, “This hands-on approach allows researchers to test hypotheses, try different methods, and use different materials, providing insights that are difficult to gain through desktop research alone.” The reconstruction of the Magan Boat was based on a clay tablet from ancient Iraq, which served as a ‘shopping list’ for the materials used.

The UAE’s connection to the sea dates back thousands of years, with early communities relying on boats for deep-sea fishing and trade. The region was known as Magan in Mesopotamia, and the boats that sailed to and from this area were called Magan Boats. The Magan Boat project highlights the sophistication and innovation of ancient maritime communities, showcasing their ability to build complex vessels using only natural materials and Bronze Age techniques.

The Zayed National Museum is dedicated to expanding knowledge about the UAE’s history and culture through research programs. The museum’s Research Fund, launched in 2023, awards Dh1 million to support research related to the UAE’s culture and history. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the Magan Boat and learn about Abu Dhabi’s maritime heritage and the ingenuity of both ancient and modern Emiratis when the museum opens its doors.

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