Reconstructed from a Sumerian Bronze Age tablet in the British Museum, the Magan ship set sail on July 9, 2024 off the coast of Abu Dhabi, thanks to the joint efforts of the Zayed National Museum, New York University Abu Dhabi and Zayed University. This archaeological and technical feat has enabled us to better understand the crucial role played by these boats in exchanges between the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley.
Reproduce nautical construction techniques dating back over 4,000 years
Recent archaeological discoveries on the island of Umm an-Nar, located off the coast of Abu Dhabi, have revealed the region's importance in maritime trade 4,000 years ago, during the Bronze Age.
The ''Magan'' boat, named after the ancient region now corresponding to the United Arab Emirates and Oman, was built from raw materials described on an ancient Sumerian clay tablet found at Tello in present-day Iraq and using techniques dating back to 2100 BC. '' It's been a long and exciting journey, from the discovery of ancient fragments of Magan boats to the moment the goat-hair sail was hoisted for its first sail from the coast of Abu Dhabi dr. Peter Magee, Director of the Zayed National Museum.
To complete the project, a multidisciplinary international team was formed, bringing together curators, professors, archaeologists and craftsmen from five countries. Carpenters specializing in historical replicas also collaborated with researchers, using traditional raw materials and hand tools to build the 18-meter-long, 19-ton boat.
The boat's outer hull was made from 15 tonnes of local reeds, which were processed by soaking, leafing, crushing and tying into long bundles using date palm fiber ropes. These reed bundles were then attached to an internal structure of wooden frames and coated with bitumen, a waterproofing technique used by the region's ancient shipbuilders. '' The project was a great opportunity to broaden our knowledge of reed boats and Bronze Age construction technology '', notes Alessandro, design consultant and restoration site manager.
Testing in real-life conditions
'' The launch of the Magan was an emblematic moment. It was a real honor to see this vessel brought back to life shares Ayesha Almansoori, a researcher involved in the project.
During its sea trials in the Arabian Gulf, the boat, under the command of Emirati sailors and assisted by a team of local shipwrights, sailed a distance of 50 nautical miles. Despite being built from reeds and wood, without any metal, the boat reached speeds of up to 5.6 knots, under a goat-hair sail. '' Seeing the Magan Boat on the water for the first time really took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes says project manager Tayla Clelland.
The ship's shape was inspired by early illustrations of boats, and the reconstruction is based on a capacity equivalent to 36 tons. Length, beam and depth were determined by a naval engineer using hydrostatic analysis to provide dimensions that would allow the boat to float once the estimated weight of cargo, boat and crew had been added. During the trials, more than 20 people were needed to maneuver the sail and rigging, due to the lack of pulleys, which did not exist in the Bronze Age. Emirati sailing champion Marwan Abdullah Al-Marzouqi, one of the two captains who steered the Magan Boat during its two days of sea trials, testifies: '' When we first towed the boat from the dock, we were very careful. I knew it was made entirely of reeds, ropes and wood (there were no nails, no screws, no metal at all) and I was afraid of damaging it. But as I set off, I soon realized that it was a solid boat. I was amazed at how smoothly this big boat, weighed down by heavy ballast, could move across the sea ''.
Zayed National Museum: a window on the nautical past
The Magan boat will be on display at the Zayed National Museum, immersing visitors in the nautical history of the United Arab Emirates. The museum, a driving force in archaeological and heritage research, will continue to preserve and celebrate the region's rich cultural heritage. '' Sailing aboard the Magan was like stepping back in time. It made me realize the incredible progress we've made in marine navigation '', says Abdallah Alremaithi, one of the boat's captains, before adding: '' The effort required for Bronze Age sailors to travel and trade must have been enormous. Succeeding in these endeavors under such difficult conditions is an inspiration to today's sailors everywhere ''.
The rebirth of the Magan ship thus explores the ancient links that shaped the UAE, and its role in maritime trade over 4,000 years ago with communities as far-flung as Mesopotamia and South Asia.
