SHARJAH, Sharjah Museums Authority (SMA) marks the 30th Anniversary of the opening of the Sharjah Archaeology Museum, the Emirate’s first cultural institution that was established in 1993 to showcase archaeological material excavated in the Emirate of Sharjah and document its rich history.
An increase in the number of excavations and unique discoveries in Sharjah, specifically in the city of Kalba and Mleiha, paved the way for establishing the first museum of its kind in the Emirate.
Following directives from H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, a committee comprising Emirati and French museology experts, as well as archaeologists who worked in various Sharjah sites, was tasked in 1988 to help with the establishment of the museum.
Before officially inaugurating the museum on 5th January 1993, the Ruler of Sharjah gifted the new museum numerous objects of great significance. He also issued a dedicated law in 1992 to further protect archaeological sites and discoveries and fight the illegal trade and smuggling of artefacts.
“It is a great day for SMA to commemorate this important milestone of a truly one-of-a-kind museum in the UAE and Gulf region,” said Manal Ataya, Director-General of Sharjah Museums Authority.
“I am privileged to have had the opportunity over these many years to oversee the development of the museum’s offerings and ensure we have stronger community engagement via our programmes and exhibitions. I have personally been committed to greater scholarship, collaboration and to narrating the remarkable story of the UAE’s ancient history,” Ataya added.
Several halls at the three-floor landmark showcased objects dating back to different eras, including the Neolithic era, the 2nd and 3rd millennium BC, the Iron Age, Hellenistic era, and Islamic era. Other halls were dedicated to the restoration of artefacts and antiquities.
In May 1997, following directives from the Sharjah Ruler, the museum relocated to its current premises to accommodate the surge in the number of discoveries in Sharjah, thanks to the efforts of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority and various archaeological teams.
After becoming responsible for running the museum alongside 16 other museums across the Emirate in 2006, SMA continues to put forth intensive efforts to develop the museum’s dedicated library, its displayed collection and intensify its educational workshops for schools and the public. It has, over the years, published various specialised books on archaeology and catalogues of its exhibitions.
Recently, SMA also opened UAE’s first children’s interactive hall at the museum. The hall – employing playful teaching methods and techniques – introduces children to the origins and development of Sharjah’s human culture, history, and development.
The museum has become of paramount importance as a source of knowledge for scholars, students and enthusiasts, and with the creation of temporary exhibition space, it has organised numerous unprecedented exhibitions over the years with various institutions in the Arab region.
Most recently, H.H. inaugurated the “Omani Civilisation: Origin and Development” exhibition in the presence of Salem bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism of the Sultanate of Oman.
The exhibition, which runs until June, marks the first time these artefacts from Oman are being displayed outside the sultanate.
Source: Emirates News Agency