Forts of Qatar presents a glimpse into an ancient past

08 Aug 2024

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Forts of Qatar presents a glimpse into an ancient past

 Forts of Qatar presents a glimpse into an ancient past

 

Let us walk by some of the olden forts in Qatar that stood tall and have been so well-preserved, offering us an amazing sneak peek into history. Visit these sites to listen to the whispers of history...

 

Al Zubara Fort

Al Zubara Fort situated halfway between the Strait of Hormuz and the west arm of the Persian Gulf, was formerly a bustling pearl fishing and trade harbour. In the Persian Gulf region, it is one of the biggest and best-preserved examples of a commercial town from the 18th and 19th centuries. Before the discovery of oil and gas in the 20th century, the Persian Gulf region's social and economic history, as well as urban life and spatial organisation, were all profoundly illuminated by the archaeological site of Zubarah. Though it was originally built in 1938 intended for Coast Guard, some people believe Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim al Thani put it up as a police station. Later on, it was refurbished into a museum with a wide range of displays and artwork, particularly related to archaeological discoveries.

Surrounding this remarkable fort are lofty, compact walls, hefty and profuse in width. A mortar and pestle designed especially for grinding mud was claimed to have been used to combine and integrate overlapping raw coral stones, mainly limestone, to construct the fort's walls. For the people within the fort, the roof made of compressed mud, provided shade and cooling. It was also for the soldiers who patrolled the surrounding areas for attackers.

 

Al Thaqab Fort

Based on archaeological findings, Thaqab has been inhabited since the tenth century. Rectangular Ath Thaqab Fort has four towers. The centre of the fort is a courtyard with steps going up to the towers. It was created somewhere in the eighteenth or nineteenth century.

Approximately 110 kilometres from the capital of Doha, in the municipality of Ash Shamal, is the abandoned town of Ath Thaqab in Qatar. Al Ruwaydah and Al Khuwayr, the latter of which is approximately three miles distant, are the nearby localities. Situated close to the town is the Thaqab Fort.

 Al Thaqab


Al Rekayat Fort

The 19th-century Al Rekayat Fort was built in the municipality of Al Shamal, in northwest Qatar, close to the village of Ar Rakiyat, to safeguard the area's water supplies. In times of strife, the locals utilised it as a protective construction. It's regarded as one of Qatar's biggest forts. The fort's general shape is rectangular, with four towers—three rectangular and one cylindrical—with a maximum height of three meters.

The old fort stands out due to its total lack of ornamentation. Its role as a defensive construction is indicated by the fact that it has just one entrance, which is situated on the southern wall.

A variety of materials were utilised to create the fort. The upper part was built with lubnah, a mixture of mud and clay brick, while the lower piece was built with limestone and mud.

The fort's northern, eastern, and western sections each have dwelling quarters. In the fort, there are three staircases. The first one goes to the cylindrical tower and is located in the southwest corner of the courtyard. The second and third lead to the roof and are situated in the fort's northeast and northwest corners, respectively. Within the centre courtyard, in a rectangular building, was found a date-press, also known as a madbassat. Situated just southwest of the fort is a mosque.