ORGANISED BY SHARJAH ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY, EXHIBITION HAILED FOR STRENGTHENING CULTURAL TIES WITH UZBEKISTAN, CENTRAL ASIA

The exhibition, “From the Arabian Peninsula to Central Asia: Treasures from Sharjah on the Silk Road”, organised by the Sharjah Antiquities Authority in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, wrapped up yesterday (Wednesday) on a strong note, after enjoying immense popularity and success at the Silk Road House of Arts in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. 

The first of its kind ‘Treasures from Sharjah’ exhibition, which opened on April 18, 2024, attracted massive interest by residents and visitors thanks to the uniqueness of its offerings and exhibits that retrace the rich history, cultural heritage, and the strong bonds between the Arabian Peninsula and Central Asia, based on rare archaeological treasures discovered in the Emirate of Sharjah, right from the Neolithic era to the Islamic golden age.

The Sharjah exhibition, held in the historical city of Samarkand, featured 121 distinctive artefacts that encapsulate the rich cultural and archaeological heritage of the Emirate, celebrating its historical past as well as the vibrant present. The exhibition was spread over three main halls at the Silk Road House of Arts.

The exhibition offered a rare opportunity for visitors to get a peek into the Arab and Islamic cultural heritage of the Emirate of Sharjah, its diversity and its history, which is reflected in the showcasing of the emirate and its status as an ever charming and diverse cultural and tourist destination.

Wide turnout and distinguished initiatives

The ‘Treasures from Sharjah’ exhibition received a robust response from Uzbek students and educational institutions, thanks to the initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Environmental Protection and Climate Change to allocate 10 buses daily to transport students to the exhibition centre. The students were presented with the opportunity to explore more than 120 rare artefacts, representing the shared history and cultural heritage of the Arabian Peninsula and Central Asia.

Deep cultural imprint

The Sharjah exhibition is destined to play a key role in strengthening cultural relations between Sharjah and Uzbekistan, exchanging vital expertise and experience in the field of archaeological heritage preservation.

In a gesture of cooperation, the Sharjah Antiquities Authority gifted all the display boxes in the exhibition, in addition to the model of the Mleiha Palace and the model of the Tomb of Al-Buhais, to Samarkand University.

The exhibition left its cultural mark among visitors and introduced the rich history and cultural relations between the peoples of the Arabian Peninsula and Central Asia that go back centuries.

Continue cultural efforts

The Sharjah Antiquities Authority, through the ‘Treasures from Sharjah’ exhbition, reaffirmed its commitment to promoting culture and awareness of the importance of archaeological heritage, by organising international exhibitions that highlight archaeological discoveries from the Emirate and enhance cultural cooperation with other countries.

The initiative was part of the Authority’s archaeological exhibitions program at the national and international levels, in order to highlight the existing scientific studies and research at archaeological excavation sites.

The exhibition spotlighted the story of centuries of passage and communication on the historical Silk Road and the importance of Samarkand as a historical city on this route. It also provided insights into the commercial role played by the city of Mleiha in the Emirate of Sharjah in the first century BC through its displays of pottery collections discovered in Mleiha.

The exhibits included artefacts that illuminate Sharjah’s relationship, role and importance in global trade routes throughout history and develop archaeological awareness for various segments of society at the national and global levels.

The exhibition constituted three halls featuring rare exhibits from the Stone Age, the Bronze Age and Iron Age periods, in addition to the exhibits from the Islamic golden age.