The Zayed National Museum, the national museum of the United Arab Emirates, has published the book 'Majan Unveils its Secrets: Building a Bronze Age Ship to Sail the Arabian Gulf'. To celebrate this achievement, an interactive program will be held on January 10 and 11, featuring a series of public activities related to the Majan boat project and its research journey.
This publication chronicles the research journey of the 'Majan boat project', a joint initiative with Zayed University and New York University Abu Dhabi, launched in 2021. It resulted in the reconstruction of an 18-meter Bronze Age ship that sailed from the coast of Abu Dhabi. The book, which brought together researchers and boat builders to reconstruct this vessel based on archaeological evidence discovered in the region, including Umm al-Nar Island in Abu Dhabi, highlights this remarkable process.
To mark the book's launch, the program will celebrate the 'Majan boat project' through a variety of artistic performances, a dialogue session, visual presentations, and workshops. Visitors will enjoy traditional art shows and storytelling sessions that take them back in time, in addition to participating in expert meetings that offer opportunities for direct interaction with the team that revived the construction of a Bronze Age ship.
Visitors can also attend a dialogue session from the 'Zayed National Museum Forum', which brings together specialized experts from Zayed National Museum, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and the author of 'Majan Unveils its Secrets'. They will discuss the various stages of the project and provide deep insights that contribute to enriching the understanding of the subject, addressing the historical and intellectual dimensions related to society.
The workshop program, inspired by the Majan project, will span two days, including a 'Make Your Own Cuneiform Tablet' workshop and a 'Make Your Own Bronze Age Seal' workshop. The program also includes the premiere of the documentary 'A Bronze Age Ship Sails Again', which traces the journey of building the Majan boat through the eyes of researchers, professional boat builders, and cultural experts. The film is presented in Arabic and English, with Emirati Sign Language available for some events upon request.
Workshops require booking paid tickets, while the 'Zayed National Museum Forum' session and the documentary film screening are free with prior registration. The rest of the events are free for museum ticket holders.
The 'program' includes the premiere of the film 'A Bronze Age Ship Sails Again'.
