Ancient ship — made of goat hair and reeds — reconstructed off Abu Dhabi, photos show

A 4,000-year-old ship was recently reconstructed and put to sea in the Arabian Gulf.

Fashioned from plants and animal hair, the 60-foot vessel is unlike any other, according to a July 8 news release from New York University Abu Dhabi.

Considered “the largest reconstruction of its kind ever attempted,” the ancient ship “bring(s) history to life,” researchers said.

The ship is a recreation of a Magan boat, which dates back to 2100 B.C., and is associated with modern-day Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

A team of specialists — including archaeologists, engineers and shipwrights — came together to construct the vessel using raw materials listed on an ancient tablet.

Its outer hull was fashioned from over 30,000 pounds of reeds, which were bundled together using rope made from palm fiber, while its interior frame was built using wood. Its sails were sewn together using goat hair.

The unique vessel proved seaworthy, completing multiple “rigorous tests” that spanned 57 miles in the Arabian Gulf, researchers said. The ship, helmed by Emirati sailors and escorted by the UAE Coast Guard, reached speeds of 5.6 knots.

The boat was the result of an “experimental archaeology initiative” spearheaded by the Zayed National Museum, Zayed University and NYU Abu Dhabi.

The project, launched several years ago, aims to better understand what life was like in the region during the Bronze Age and preserve the country’s maritime heritage.

“From ancient shipbuilders to today’s archaeologists, the launch of this impressive Magan boat reconstruction represents thousands of years of Emirati innovation and exploration,” Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, the chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism, said in the release.

This story was originally published July 15, 2024 at 4:59 PM with the headline "Ancient ship — made of goat hair and reeds — reconstructed off Abu Dhabi, photos show."