World First Diplodocus Skeleton for the Lost Worlds Exhibition to be held at the Sheraton Hotel, Doha, Qatar 21 October - 11 December 2004
As the final stages of preparation for the Lost Worlds Exhibition, hosted by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage, draw to a close, there were moments of drama and awe yesterday (9.10.04) as an astonishing 90 foot (28m) Diplodocus Skeleton was assembled in the exhibition halls, ready for the visiting public.
This incredible creature is the largest preserved in a public collection. This renowned skeleton joins a collection of some astonishing and rare treasures from the natural world, which together tell an amazing tale of the splendours of past life on Earth.
"Qatar is privileged to have been able to buy this magnificant specimen for the people of Qatar as complete skeletons are extremely rare", says Hussain Rajab Al-Ismail, Director for Museums and Antiquities. "We hope the people of Qatar will be inspired by the Lost Worlds exhibition and the incredible items and displays they will find there. As most of the extraordinary plants and creatures on display are now extinct we hope that Lost Worlds will raise awareness of the fragility of the natural world and the responsibility we all have to look after it for future generations."
This remarkable 28 metre (90 feet) long dinosaur lived in the Upper Jurassic period (approximately 145 million years ago). Although Doha is extremely different to the Triceratop's original habitat in Wyoming, USA, this creature will have a huge array of other life forms to keep it company as they together provide the people of Qatar with a unique opportunity to learn about and experience species now long extinct.
In addition to the Diplodocus, there is also the skeleton of a Triceratops as well as a number of dinosaur skulls and eggs, meteorites, fossils of extinct sea creatures, plants, reptiles, mammals and even a fossilized tarantula that lived 130 million years ago. A large collection of extinct birds, including the famous "dodo" and a rare specimen of the Confuciusornis (a rare, fossilised bird from China) will also keep the dinosaurs company.
To complement these exhibits and to provide the people of Qatar with an insight to the inspiration nature has been to art through history, there is also a collection of world famous historical and contemporary natural history artworks on display. The contemporary pieces in this collection include works by renowned artists such as Jacques Barraband, William Hart and British artist Elizabeth Butterworth, who has been commissioned to create a special collection of watercolours especially for Lost Worlds. Visitors will also be able to marvel at one of the few remaining original copies of Audubon's magnificent work "Birds of America" which has been bought for the people of Qatar.
The exhibition has been organised by the NCCAH with the help of The Natural History Museum in London. Lost Worlds is the first in a series of innovative and exciting projects organised by the NCCAH. Construction is already underway on several new museums and cultural institutions in Qatar, including the National Library. Scheduled to open in 2006, the Library will house a permanent Natural History Museum, which with more than 5000sq meters of exhibition galleries, will be the biggest of its genre in Middle Orient.
The museum will focus on the problems of preserving the environment and will present examples from the past, including the famous dinosaur extinction 65 million years ago, to show today's very real threat of extinction due to mankind's activities. Important fossil collections, including giants from the past, will be - together with a gem collection, the highlight of the future museum.
-Ends-
Notes to the Editor
Lost Worlds Exhibition
Duration: 21 October - 11 December 2004
Admission: Free
Venue: The Al Majlis Ballroom, Sheraton Doha Hotel
Opening hours: during Ramadhan: 8-11am and 8-11pm;
during and after Eid: 9am - 1pm, and 4pm - 9pm
For further information (to arrange an interview, request images or further exhibition information) please contact:
Dr. Hubert Bari Exhibitions Manager
Tel: (0974) 5833293
Email: Hubert.bari@free.fr
Fran McElwaine or Charlotte Dent
Hill & Knowlton Public Relations
Tel: (0974) 582 8980 or (0974) 585 6581
Email: fran@hillandknowlton.com.bh or charlotte.dent@hillandknowlton.com
© Press Release 2004
