QMA, German Archeological Institute Sign an Agreement for Joint Archeological Fieldwork

Doha, April 18 (QNA) - Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) and the German Archeological Institute (DAI) or Deutsches Archeologists Institute, on Wednesday signed an agreement for 'Qatari-German Joint Archeological Fieldwork' to further promote the knowledge of the historical, ethnic and socio-economic structure as well as political, religious and cultural roles of Qatar, and investigate Qatar's ancient ecological and living conditions. This agreement, signed for QMA by HE Sheikh Hassan Bin Mohamed Al Thani, the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of QMA and for DAI by its president Friederike Fless. According to the agreement, Qatar intends to undertake joint Qatari-German archeological surveys and excavations in Qatar with the aim of training Qatari and German students in archeological fieldwork in Qatar. It also aims to undertake further education, training and capacity building for members of both parties in both countries, in addition to strengthening scholarly, service and logistical initiatives within the same framework. |For his part, Abdullah Al Najjar, the Chief Executive of the Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) underlined the importance of the cooperation agreement between the QMA and the German Archaeological Institute as being the beginning of an important partnership between the two sides in this area. Al Najjar pointed out that workfield in the field archaeological will start in the south of Qatar according to three main axes, the archeology, Descriptive Anthropology and site management and protection measures. He further said that the archeological field will take place in the south of Qatar will include; 1) Archeology: encompassing survey, excavations technology and documentation. 2) Ethnography: studying the local cultural traditions, toponyms, and oral historiography. 3) Site Management and Protection Measures: providing protective measures for the excavated sites such as consolidation and conservation. Working with World leading academic institutions, QMA aims to provide greater understanding of its diverse and long heritage and its relations to the rest of the World and also spread the awareness of Qatar's past history to its people, he added. It is worthy to mention that the German Archaeological Institute is a federal agency that is within the area of responsibility of the ministry of foreign affairs. The institute employs around 120 scientists. The institute, established in 1829, is headed by a president, who, in accordance with the articles of the institute, is bound to the decisions of central management. The president's deputy is his secretary general, who in particular deals with matters of scientific organisation and policy. The individual branches (departments and committees) are headed by directors. The directors together with the president and the secretary general form the board of directors (Direktorium), whose tasks are set forth in the articles. (QNA)