CSMC News (2021)23 December 2021|CSMC NewsGeorgia – Codicology and Preventive ConservationPhoto: Andrea PatakiIn cooperation with the Cologne Institute for Conservation Sciences and several regional partners, the new three-year research project, starting in 2022, will foster the exchange between Georgian and German researchers and students.22 December 2021|CSMC NewsCuneiform Culture and the Akkadian LanguagePhoto: CSMCFrom 21-25 February 2022, the CSMC will host an introductory-level winter school on ‘Cuneiform Culture and the Akkadian Language’. Participation is open to students from all backgrounds.21 December 2021|CSMC NewsCSMC Receives Generous Donation from René TeijgelerPhoto: René TeijgelerThe internationally renowned researcher and advisor in the field of Critical Cultural Heritage has recently honoured the CSMC with a donation of special written artefacts. A few days ago, the objects were received by Jan van der Putten and Roberta Zollo in Utrecht.14 December 2021|CSMC NewsVacant Research Associate PositionsPhoto: CSMCWe invite applications for research associate positions on the projects ‘The Development of Literacy in the Caucasian Territories' and 'Valuating Handwriting in East Asia in the Digital Age', respectively. 7 December 2021|CSMC NewsA Coffin, a Doll, and a CursePhoto: Sara ChiariniIn the latest volume of our series ‘Artefact of the Month’, the final one of the year, an unknown Athenian intrudes into a cemetery at night. The person tampers with a grave in order to influence the outcome of a trial – with the help of a curse.29 November 2021|CSMC NewsCSMC Announces J. P. Gumbert Dissertation Award 2022Photo: CSMCWith the J. P. Gumbert Dissertation Award, the CSMC honours the best doctoral thesis defended in 2021 that contributes to any aspect of the study of manuscripts and other written artefacts. We now welcome nominations. 28 November 2021|CSMC NewsMusic for AdventPhoto: Stadtgeschichtliches Museum LeipzigA few weeks ago, we called for your participation to make the forgotten pieces from Marie Pohlenz' 'musical friendship album' resound again. Just in time for the festive season, we have received the first contributions. 26 November 2021|CSMC NewsHandwriting MattersPhoto: CSMCDespite the availability of prints and digital media, handwriting still plays a significant role in many religious contexts. In this short film, CSMC researchers explain why manuscripts prevail – and why printed words sometimes fall short of expressing the meaning of handwritten ones.25 November 2021|CSMC NewsEthical and Responsible Research at the CSMCPhoto: CSMCThe council meeting of the Cluster of Excellence has approved a new Ethics Paper that outlines the responsibilities of manuscript researchers and provides guidelines for the appropriate treatment of written artefacts and research data.24 November 2021|CSMC NewsCall for Papers: Computational Systems for Ancient Written ArtefactsPhoto: © Baptiste DUPUY de l'agence BaptisteDreamOn 22 May 2022, ‘Computational Systems for Ancient Written Artefacts’, a special session at the DAS 2022 International Workshop, will take place in La Rochelle, France. The call for papers is now open, deadline for submissions is 4 January. 23 November 2021|CSMC NewsCall for Papers: UWA Conference 2023Photo: CSMCFrom 27-29 September 2023, the Cluster of Excellence will host a major international conference on ‘Studying Written Artefacts: Challenges and Perspectives’. The Call for Papers is now open. Deadline for submissions is 1 June.22 November 2021|CSMC NewsManuscript Albums: A First Comparative ApproachPhoto: Stadtgeschichtliches Museum LeipzigFrom 29–30 October 2021, the CSMC hosted the online workshop ‘Manuscript Albums: Collecting & Compiling Handwritten Items’. Organisers Janine Droese and Janina Karolewski summarise their reflections on the workshop’s papers and discussions.16 November 2021|CSMC News39 Grams of Qur'anPhoto: CSMCIn pre-modern times, master calligraphers produced editions of the Qur’an that were smaller than a palm. In this video, Cornelius Berthold explains the function of miniature Qur'ans and scrutinises an astonishingly precise 14th-century description of these small manuscripts. 15 November 2021|CSMC News'Hermann Made Me.' The Story of a Baptismal FontPhoto: Jochen Hermann VennebuschIn the new edition of our series 'Artefact of the Month', Jochen Hermann Vennebusch examines a 'living fountain' in bronze, which played a key role in a mysterious medieval ritual. 12 November 2021|CSMC NewsTrends in Statistical CodicologyPhoto: De GruyterThe new edition of 'Studies in Manuscript Cultures' is now available as open access. The volume provides a comprehensive picture of the application of statistical methodology to various aspects of manuscript production.11 November 2021|CSMC NewsVacant Research Associate PositionPhoto: CSMCWe invite applications for a research associate position on the project ‘Wandering Artefacts: The Materialistic History of German-Jewish Archives. The Correspondence of Franz Rosenzweig, Martin Buber, and Margarete Susman'. 9 November 2021|CSMC NewsHebrew CodicologyPhoto: The National Library of IsraelMalachi Beit-Arié’s new book is the result of 60 years of research. Now the opus magnum 'Hebrew Codicology' has been published digitally.5 November 2021|CSMC NewsVariants and Variance of Written ArtefactsPhoto: National Taiwan UniversityIn close cooperation with CSMC, the National Taiwan University organised and hosted an international conference on ‘Variants/Variance – Text, Form and Material’, which took place from 23-24 October. 1 November 2021|CSMC NewsNew Perspectives on PalimpsestsPhoto: CSMCFrom 7-8 October 2021, the CSMC hosted the workshop 'Removed and Rewritten: Palimpsests and Related Phenomena from a Cross-Cultural Perspective'. In this contribution, the organisers reflect on what has been achieved – and look ahead to future work in the field.29 October 2021|CSMC NewsVacant Research Associate PositionPhoto: CSMCCSMC invites applications for a research associate position on the project ‘African voices in the Islamic manuscripts from Mali: documenting and exploring African languages written in Arabic script (Ajami)'.26 October 2021|CSMC NewsExploring Written ArtefactsPhoto: CSMCThe new edition of ‘Studies in Manuscript Cultures’ is published as a Festschrift in honour of Michael Friedrich. The two volumes trace key concepts that scholars associated with CSMC have developed and refined for the systematic study of manuscript cultures.21 October 2021|CSMC NewsNew Faces at CSMCPhoto: CSMCWith the beginning of the new semester, we welcome several new and some returning CSMC members in various capacities: professors, senior professors, associated researchers at the Cluster of Excellence, and Petra-Kappert Fellows. 20 October 2021|CSMC NewsJuliane Noth Accepts Professorship at FU BerlinPhoto: Universität HeidelbergThe art historian and sinologist will take up the professorship in East Asian art history this winter semester. At the Cluster of Excellence 'Understanding Written Artefacts', she investigated popular calligraphy practices in socialist China. 18 October 2021|CSMC NewsThe King’s Quest for EternityPhoto: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and AnthropologyIn the new edition of our series 'Artefact of the Month', a king with a penchant for building projects comes up with an innovative idea to literally imprint his name on posterity. 15 October 2021|CSMC NewsTextual Criticism and Editorial Technique of Multilingual Manuscript TraditionsPhoto: The British LibraryThis winter semester, the CSMC offers a special lecture series in cooperation with the Göttinger Akademie der Wissenschaften. The kickoff is next Tuesday, 19 October. 8 October 2021|CSMC NewsPreserving Nepalese ManuscriptsPhoto: Bidur BhattaraiWith an opening event on 29 September, CSMC and the Central Department of Nepalbhasa officially launched their joint effort to preserve a collection of written artefacts that offer valuable insights into Nepalese history and culture.4 October 2021|CSMC News'Art and Science Shake the Same Tree'Photo: Axel MalikThe workshop ‘Removed and Rewritten’ on 7 and 8 October ends with a special event: Axel Malik, currently Artist in Residence at CSMC, will present his ‘Intervention Palimpsests’. In this interview, he talks about the transformative power of writing and the common cause of art and science. 29 September 2021|CSMC NewsSoutheast Asian Manuscripts Database LaunchPhoto: DREAMSEADREAMSEA is launching an open-access data base to preserve the diversity of texts contained in Southeast Asian manuscripts. The opening event takes place this Friday, 1 October.24 September 2021|CSMC NewsIslamic Digital Humanities in the FieldPhoto: Islamic Digital Humanities NetworkOrganised by Scott Reese, the Islamic Digital Humanities Network holds its workshop 'Islamic Digital Humanities in the field: On methods and ethics' on 29 September. The workshop explores the social, political, and ethical hurdles of preserving the Islamic written tradition through digital means. 21 September 2021|CSMC NewsJosé Maksimczuk New President of the Argentine Committee of Byzantine StudiesPhoto: Comité Argentino de Estudios BizantinosThe CSMC Research Associate takes over the office for an initial three years. The Argentine Committee of Byzantine Studies gathers scholars from Argentina and Europe and facilitates research on Byzantine culture.20 September 2021|CSMC NewsNew Issue of ‘manuscript cultures’ on Colour Meets MapPhoto: CSMCThe exhibition catalogue 'Colour Meets Map' has been published as issue 16 of 'manuscript cultures'. The culture-comparative study provides a foundation for understanding a thus far underexplored topic: the central meaning of colour in maps and mapping. 16 September 2021|CSMC NewsThe Music of the SalonsPhoto: Stadtgeschichtliches Museum LeipzigThe ‘musical friendship album’ of the pianist and singer Marie Pohlenz is a treasure chest of forgotten compositions from the 19th century. The CSMC digitised the book in cooperation with the Stadtgeschichtliches Museum Leipzig. Now it’s your turn: Play the pieces and send us your contribution!8 September 2021|CSMC NewsA Survival from a Sixteenth-Century Bardic SchoolPhoto: The Board of Trinity College DublinIn the latest edition of our series ‘Artefact of the Month’, a Welsh philologist and naturalist travels to late 17th-century Ireland. He collects whatever falls into his hands. In the process, he saves – almost inadvertently – an entire class of verses and versifiers from oblivion.2 September 2021|CSMC NewsVacant Research Associate and Doctoral PositionsPhoto: CSMCCSMC invites applications for two research associate and two doctoral positions on the project ‘The Development of Literacy in the Caucasian Territories (DeLiCaTe)’.1 September 2021|CSMC NewsCounting Up In SignsPhoto: A. MalikStarting today, Axel Malik, currently Artist in Residence at CSMC, begins his ‘Increasing Countdown’. In this unique project, he will extend a sequence of script-like characters day by day - for 754 days, until 25 September 2023.23 August 2021|CSMC NewsColour Meets MapPhoto: MARKK Hamburg & Hanseatic Business Foundation ArchiveStarting this week, the Museum am Rothenbaum is showing the exhibition ‘Colour Meets Map’. It is based on three years of research in which scientists of the CSMC were significantly involved.19 August 2021|CSMC NewsThe Persian Documents from al-Ḥaram al-SharīfPhoto: Andrew ShivaNew DFG project at CSMC: ‘The Persian Documents from al-Ḥaram al-Sharīf in Jerusalem, 1300-1353’ examines the textual and archival practices of the eastern medieval Islamic world.18 August 2021|CSMC NewsDemarginalizing Medieval AfricaPhoto: Jacopo GnisciA new AHRC-DFG project, carried out in cooperation with University College London, intends to illuminate the art, history, and culture of the Ethiopian Empire during the early Solomonic period.17 August 2021|CSMC NewsWorkshop on Computational PaleographyPhoto: ICDARAs part of the ICDAR Conference 2021, the first edition of the Workshop on Computational Paleography will take place this September at the University of Lausanne. The programme for the event has now been published.16 August 2021|CSMC NewsWhat Could Not Be ErasedPhoto: I. Shevchuk, K. A. Huskin (CSMC)CSMC researchers were able to reconstruct Nazi slogans on Torah scrolls looted from the Harburg synagogue during the Reichspogromnacht. These fragments are a centrepiece of a current exhibition on Jewish life in Harburg, which is open until 17 October. 13 August 2021|CSMC NewsOne Manuscript, Three PersecutionsPhoto: Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, ViennaThe 8th edition of our series 'Artefact of the Month' has been published. This time, a Hebrew codex travels from Franconia to Vienna and gets caught up in the turmoil of several persecutions of Jews.12 August 2021|CSMC NewsCSMC extends international cooperationsPhoto: Scott Reese (CSMC)We are happy to announce that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between CSMC and the Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religion (AHKR) at the University of Bergen. Our collaboration on a research project on Islamic manuscripts in East Africa has already started.5 August 2021|CSMC NewsCSMC Involved in Conference on Arabic-Script Manuscripts in AfricaPhoto: ASMIA ConferenceThis September, six of our members and associates will contribute to the online conference 'Arabic-Script Manuscripts in Africa' in various capacities. 2 August 2021|CSMC NewsEducation MaterialisedPhoto: DeGruyterThe latest edition of the book series 'Studies in Manuscript Cultures' has been published. In 22 open-access chapters, it explores this relation between manuscripts and eductional practices. 29 July 2021|CSMC NewsUsman Al-Amin successfully defends doctoral dissertationPhoto: UHHWe congratulate our most recent graduate, Usman Al-Amin, who received his doctorate for his work in Islamic Studies.23 July 2021|CSMC NewsStories from rural China: The Serruys Collection is available onlinePhoto: CSMCThe collection is part of the bequest of Father Paul L-M. Serruys, C.I.C.M. (1912-1999) who is remembered as an eminent scholar and professor of early Chinese texts, language and linguistics, who spent thirteen years as a missionary in Northern China until 1949. During this period, he developed an interest in anthropology and ethnography. He tasked...6 July 2021|CSMC NewsSeventh Edition of the Artefact of the Month publishedPhoto: © Shaanxi History Museum, reproduced with permission.The seventh edition of the Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures’ series Artefact of the Month (AoM), written by CSMC's Ondřej Škrabal, has been published. The article A Scoop of Filial Piety? examines a literal scoop from ancient China. The article illustrates the reasons for adding new supplements to the original inscriptions found on the...29 June 2021|CSMC NewsIssue 15 of 'manuscript cultures' (MC) publishedPhoto: CSMCThe new issue 15 of manuscript cultures contains a selection of peer-reviewed papers presented at the workshop OpenXfor Interdisciplinary Computational Manuscript Research and the third International Conference on Natural Sciences and Technology in Manuscript Analysis along with some additional unique case studies. The articles were solicited for...7 June 2021|CSMC NewsSixth Edition of the Artefact of the Month publishedPhoto: Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, MS Eng. E. 3764The sixth edition of the Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures’ series Artefact of the Month (AoM), written by Kathryn Sutherland, has been published. The article Jane Austen’s Frugal Art examines the working draft of an unfinished and unpublished novel by Jane Austen. The many additions, revisions and and other features help taking a glimpse...31 May 2021|CSMC NewsJ. P. Gumbert Dissertation Award 2021Photo: H. Sun/J. CooganCSMC is happy to announce two winners of the J. P. Gumbert Dissertation Award 2021 for their excellent and innovative contributions to manuscript studies: Hui Sun: “Funerary Lists from Early Chinese Shaft Tombs”, Universität HeidelbergThrough a combination of codicological and philological data with archaeological and ethno-sociological theories,...More articles
