• Shipbuilding

This industry existed for centuries in Qatar and the Gulf region, but almost disappeared following the discovery of oil in the early decades of the twentieth century.

It used to rely on materials imported from India, such as teak and pine wood that resist humidity, certain types of cotton wicks, nails and oil extracted from dolphins to be used as water insulator.

Gypsum Ornamentation

Traditional architecture in Qatar falls into three categories:

• Religious architecture like mosques.
   
• Civil architecture like castles, palaces, houses and markets.
   
• Military architecture like forts, towers and fencing walls.

The topography and climate of the country determined the style and the shapes of various buildings. Thus materials such as non-polished stones that were available in almost all parts of the country were used.

Clay was used as mortar to bond stones together or to coat surfaces of external and internal walls and ceilings. Clay bricks were also used in areas where stones were not available.

With the passage of time Qatari architects managed to adopt new and modernistic building techniques, tools and materials. Gypsum replaced clay in coating walls and wooden frames were used in ceilings.

The roofs were level and  horizontal with parts of them protruding in the facades to lessen the impact of heat on the insides of buildings.

To avoid glaring sunlight, windows were small compared to walls, and were usually rectangular overlooking courtyards. In the sitting rooms and the upper rooms, windows overlooked both the courtyard and the street. There were also ventilation and lighting grills, called Badjirs, only in the upstairs rooms.

Fishing & Pearl Hunting

Since ancient times the sea has played a vital role in the daily life of the citizens of the peninsula of Qatar. Fishing is thus one of the ancient trades that the people of Qatar practiced to earn a living in the pre –oil era. There were different methods of fishing, such as Al-Maskar and Al-Hadhrah.

Al hadhrah is an enclosure made form palm fronds and robes made of plant fiber. It was used in shallow waters to catch certain kinds of fish such as Assafi. 

Almaskar is a stone structure of various sizes in the sea.

Al maskar method relies on the tide movement. During an ebb an iron bar with a sharp end called the Nira, or the Sahila which is a net fixed with two pieces of wood on each side are  used to catch fish entrapped in al maskar.

Pearl diving is one of the oldest professions in the Gulf region. It was one of the main sources of income in the pre-oil era. There were two diving seasons: the big dive, a two-month journey, and the small dive, a forty-day journey.

Both seasons fell between June and September. Among the tools the divers used were the scuttle, Al-futam, Al-falakah and stones.

With the discovery of oil in the 1930’s and the introduction of Japanese artificial pearls, pearl diving became unprofitable and people turned to earn their living from other less demanding  activities.
 

Falconry   
 

Falconry is one of the most important hobbies of the Qatari people. Obsession with falconry as a hobby, is passed on from fathers to sons as people believe it encourages the values of chivalry, courage, patience and diligence.

This hobby is practiced in winter when people start hunting falcons to train them at a later stage. Falcon hunting techniques differ from hunter to hunter depending on experience.

Falcon raising and training is also done by the hunters themselves. Training is carried out in various ways such as waving a mock prey or a rabbit tied to a thread, or a pigeon tied to a thread and allowed to fly.

The most important tools of falconry are the veil that covers the bird’s face; the leg tie and the gauntlet (Al-mankalah) on which the falcon sits while carried by its trainer, and the feed bag in which all tools and preys are put. The most famous types of falcons are  the lanner, the peregrine and Al-wukri.
 

Popular games in Qatar…

Unlike what many would think, ancient Qataris never forgot leisure and recreation. They had games to play as adults and children. Children invested the most insignificant objects with any form they pleased. Although the games were mostly humble, they played an important role in stimulating, entertaining and preserving the social relations among these people.  They also reflected the daily life of the Qataris at that time.

This heritage was handed over from generation to generation just as any other custom. Experts say that there were some 100 types of games in ancient Qatar played by both male and females, young and adults. These games were practiced during appropriate times.

All areas in the country had their own popular games and although some of them underwent some changes both in terms of governing rules and ways of play, most of them preserved the same characteristics. more