The age of a historical manuscript can be an invaluable source of information for paleographers and historians. The process of automatic manuscript age detection has inherent complexities, which are compounded by the lack of suitable datasets for algorithm testing. This paper presents a dataset of historical handwritten Arabic manuscripts designed specifically to test state-of-the-art authorship and age detection algorithms. Qatar National Library has been the main source of manuscripts for this dataset while the remaining manuscripts are open source. The dataset consists of over 2000 images taken from various handwritten Arabic manuscripts spanning fourteen centuries. In addition, a sparse representation-based approach for dating historical Arabic manuscript is also proposed. There is lack of existing datasets that provide reliable writing date and author identity as metadata. KERTAS is a new dataset of historical documents that can help researchers, historians and paleographers to automatically date Arabic manuscripts more accurately and efficiently.

As an archaeological heritage, valuable heritage settlements entail preservation to avoid destruction and eventual extinction. Intending to propose a study for revitalising heritage villages, Tinbak is selected as a case study. It is an old abandoned village in Qatar identifiable by its distinct yet straightforward local architecture features. This article applies the concept of sustainable tourism to architectural heritage with consideration to social, cultural, and economic factors. The study employs qualitative research methods, grand and mini-tours, interviews and SWOT analysis with attention to three objectives, 1. Maintain the domestic identity of Tinbak; 2. Shift the value of space from residential to an attractive, sustainable touristic place; and 3. Highlight the connectivity to adjacent communities and open lands as a means of enhancing accessibility and ecotourism. To implement tourism sustainability, the study suggested the guidelines of the albergo diffuso model that promote local culture, stimulate the local economy and considering environmental sustainability. Recommendations suggested protecting and conserving the existing heritage, considering the surrounding rural area as part of revitalising the village, engaging the ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Heritage settlements have long histories that consist of multiple layers of urban layouts, building forms, and culture. Looking at the first layer that formed the initiation stage of the growth becomes a difficult task because of the disguise of other successive layers. This article studies the abandoned village of Tinbak in Qatar that exemplifies a settlement at its initial stage of development. The method of examining a societal normative image of culturally suitable domiciliary development adds to the understanding of a heritage settlement layout. However, the village lacks literature sources and urban and architectural documentation. So, this article presents the first documentation of the tangible characteristics of both urban morphology and architectural typology. Site visits, oral documentation, photographic records and a 3D Faro scanner with a 130 m range were utilized to record and document the physical environment.

The aim of this paper is to examine the iconography of donkeys in Old Kingdom scenes executed in private tombs and how the ancient Egyptians utilized them in their farming community. Three categories of donkey usages can be specified: (1) Donkeys carrying loads; (2) Donkeys threshing grain; and (3) Donkeys carrying officials. The paper ends with a discussion see:king to evaluate the relationship between people and donkeys.

The aim of this paper is to discuss the requirements for effective guiding and the attributes for establishing effective rapport in tourist guiding. The paper will suggest an "interpretation of themes," using a thematically oriented approach in order to help tourist construct meaning, by giving an example of manicure and pedicure scenes in Ancient Egypt. This will be followed by arguments on the importance of interpretation of themes as part of the art and creativity of guiding, which should be added to the tourist guiding profession, and which will assumingly influence the tourists' construction of meaning for their experiences.