Qatar Museums restores Zubarah date press site

Qatar Museums (QM) has successfully completed the conservation andrestoration of a date press site in Al Zubarah, it was announcedyesterday. The restoration project, run under the patronage of QM’s Chairperson, HESheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, is part of a largerinitiative by QM’s Architectural Conservation Department andarchaeology department to restore historical and archaeological sitesthroughout Qatar. The site discovered in 1980 underwent restoration during 2017-2018. Thedate press known as ‘Madabes’ in Arabic, offers a fascinating look athow the nutrient-rich juice was made in the olden days. This makes it animportant addition to QM’s work aimed at connecting local audienceswith their past. “Our excavations and ensuing conservation works areessential to preserving Qatar’s identity and rich heritage which datesback over thousands of years,” QM’s acting chief archaeology officer Alial-Kubaisi said.“We believe that Qatar’s future is in the hands of its youth who need tounderstand the deep layers that shaped their past and contributed towho they are today,” he stressed. “We want them to call upon the wisdomof their ancestors so that it may help them build a prosperous tomorrowfor our country.” The restoration teams relied on a tailor-made AlZubarah Conservation Manual, which offered detailed instruction on howto restore each date press pillar and cover it with a specially madeplaster layer. The process also included cleaning the area and removing surfaceerosion, which did not exceed 2mm, a testament to the success of thephased restoration process which began last year. Additionally, the Architectural Conservation Department is currentlyworking on a detailed report highlighting the restoration process andrecommending suitable conservation plans. Based on these recommendations, the date press site will receive thenecessary resources to protect it in the future. The newly discoveredsite is the latest addition to Al Zubarah, a Unesco World Heritage site,which already features tours of the fort and surrounding excavationsfor the public. The site sheds light on the socio-economic transformation of the area,and the history of urban trading and pearl-diving traditions which thecoastal towns of the region have been known for. It is also one ofseveral projects that the QM Architectural Conservation Department hasbeen working to restore to the highest international standards andguidelines of Unesco.