BUILDING ANCIENT BOATS FOR TODAY’S IRAQ

We revive, protect and study the traditional boats of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers,
a cultural heritage at the root of Mesopotamian civilisation.

Iraq’s watercraft heritage is unique, and central to its history as a river-based civilisation. Boats resembling those depicted by the Sumerians and other early Mesopotamians were still in widespread use until the 20th century, having outlasted the rise and fall of successive civilisations. But today, after decades of conflict, economic pressures, displacement of communities and damage to the environment, these ancient boat types are endangered. Since 2016, we have been working with Iraq’s remaining boatbuilding communities to document their craft techniques, transfer knowledge to the next generation, and bring traditional boats back into production for new uses.

Floats, rafts and boats

Floats

Floats


The simplest watercraft, made from naturally buoyant materials.


RAFTS

RAFTS


Structures connecting buoyant parts, made in different ways


ISBIYA

ISBIYA


Heavyweight cargo barge, used on the Euphrates in western Iraq.


MESHOUF

MESHOUF


Wooden canoe, traditionally made in Iraq’s southern Marshes.


 

GUFFA

GUFFA


Coil basket coracle, made in central Iraq since ancient times


 

Zaima

Zaima


Basketry canoe, a lost boat type from Iraq’s southern Marshes


 

30

BOATS BUILT

9

BOAT TYPES

48

WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS

3

MUSEUM EXHIBITS

Funders

Partners