Atharna 2025: Unearthing Qatar’s Ancient Textile Factories

The exhibition marks the launch of Qatar Museums’ annual archaeology exhibition series, bringing archaeological research into public view.

Visitors can step inside a reconstructed excavation tent and experience the atmosphere of a dig, surrounded by tools, finds, and an audio soundscape reflecting daily fieldwork in the desert.

This first edition of Atharna focuses on the early Islamic sites of Mesaika and Ain Mohammed, part of the ongoing Landscapes of Faith project. Excavations since 2022 reveal evidence of textile production, suggesting these settlements once functioned as workshops. Through architecture, artefacts, and analysis, visitors learn how archaeologists interpret and test such findings.

Thirty-five objects from the Archaeology and National Museum of Qatar collections are on display, including “mystery objects” that remain under study. Visitors are invited to share knowledge and insights, connecting community memory with archaeological research and encouraging dialogue and shared discovery.