Material-analytical and cultural-historical examinations of colonial-period manuscripts from Mexico in Berlin and Cracow

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Oliver Hahn; Barbara Schneider-Kempf
• Subject Area: African, American and Oceania Studies ; Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation ; History of Science
• Term: from 2016 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 324538975

Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin and Biblioteka Jagiellonska in Cracow possess several illuminated manuscripts: indigenous and colonial-period codices. These reflect in a special way Aztec culture and the mutual relations between the Spanish colonial rulers and the indigenous population. This unique, heterogeneous stock includes not only original manuscripts of the indigenous population, but also Spanish manuscripts, some of which are adaptations or copies of the original Aztec manuscripts in the Náhuatl and Spanish languages. In an interdisciplinary research plan with natural scientists and humanities scholars, the manuscripts in Berlin and Cracow, only a few of which have been processed so far, will be subjected to a comprehensive, interdisciplinary examination. The plan focuses on various questions.The cultural-historical processing of the stock addresses, first, codicological, but also art-historical questions. The aim is thus, first, to conduct research on the various pre-Spanish and colonial-period texts and their characters. Along with examining the connection between text and picture, the analysis of the pictorial program will play a central role. To what degree is the colonization reflected in the manuscripts? Were the Aztec presentations copied or replaced by Spanish pictorial content, or is there rather a synthesis or mixture of styles? Beyond that, investigating the history of the Aztecs, their iconography and script, and their cartography immediately before and during the colonial period is important.Along with examinations by humanities scholars, natural scientific analyses of the materials used in writing and drawing characters and of the writing surfaces play an important role. Material analysis can provide information about the history of the manuscripts. Along with the first-ever determination of the coloring and writing materials, a materials-scientific analysis will determine which individual fragments belong to which manuscripts. Distinguishing among materials will also make it possible to identify copies.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants