CSMC Offers Joint Course with SFZ Hamburg Again

15 May 2024

Photo: Karsten Helmholz

How can you tell originals from forgeries? How can you determine the age and origin of a manuscript? And can lost writing be made visible again? Starting on 19 June, a course for pupils, jointly offered by the CSMC and the SFZ Hamburg, will give answers to these questions.

Many of the questions that arise when researching historical written artefacts can only be answered using scientific methods. Since 2023, the CSMC has been working with the Schülerforschungszentrum Hamburg (SFZ) to offer courses for pupils in grades 8 to 10, in which participants gain an insight into our research and have the opportunity to examine historical manuscripts themselves using state-of-the-art analytical tools.

During this course, various inks are first produced in the SFZ chemistry laboratory according to old recipes. Researchers of the CSMC will then demonstrate how we can analyse the manuscripts produced with these inks. We use both X-rays and multispectral imaging, which has its origins in aerospace. Finally, using image processing software, you can unlock the secrets of the manuscripts on your own laptop.

The course comprises five dates in June and July 2024, each from 17:00 to 18:30. The examinations will take place at the SFZ and also in the CSMC laboratory in Warburgstraße. Registration is open and can be done via the SFZ website.