Qatar Museums (QM) has partnered with the Marine Science Cluster at Qatar University’s Environmental Science Centre (QU-ESC) to study the country’s marine features and underwater archaeology.
“The research aims to make new discoveries that will help shed light on the history of marine trade in the region,” QM said in a statement yesterday.
The agreement, signed by Mansoor al-Mahmoud, QM acting CEO and special adviser to the chairperson, and Dr Hassan Rashid al-Derham, QU president, will serve in developing a research database from findings recorded by Janan, QU’s state-of-the-art marine research vessel, as well as further strengthening the relationship between QM and QU.
This collaboration will also extend to other areas of co-operation, including, but not limited to, lectures, special training and supervision of academic studies.
“We are also proud that this partnership will bring QM closer to its goal of honouring the traditions of the past while embracing the future,” QM’s chief archaeology officer Ali al-Kubaisi said.
Throughout the partnership, both parties will co-ordinate bespoke training programmes and participate in joint workshops to drive the collaboration in accordance with best practice and international research and training standards.  
The joint study will explore the benefits of marine science and marine archaeology in Qatar. A study will also be conducted on the geophysical and bathymetric data of Qatar’s waters.
Throughout the process, the two organisations will be able to identify and analyse the artefacts and eco facts recovered from the project.  
In addition, the project will introduce a new study about the sea level change and the relation with the settlements during the prehistory period in Gulf region.
Marine sites will be evaluated and ensuing reports will detail the underwater archaeological findings from each site, as well as the benefits of each.
QM will be responsible for monitoring and protecting any marine archaeological features and artefacts, discovered during this research process.
“The research is also an opportunity to showcase the wide-ranging marine research capacity of the ESC in general and Janan in particular,” Dr al-Derham said. “Further, it cannot be understated the benefit of this project to the students and researchers in our marine science programme.”