معرفی
Professor Oliver Hahn is a Professor at the University of Hamburg with a joint appointment at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) in Berlin. He serves as a key researcher within the Cluster of Excellence 'Understanding Written Artefacts' (UWA), where he leads significant projects focused on the material analysis of historical manuscripts and cultural artifacts. His work bridges scientific analysis with humanities research, contributing to our understanding of historical writing practices and material culture across civilizations.
Professor Hahn's research spans multiple disciplines at the intersection of material science and cultural heritage. His primary focus areas include:
- Material analysis of historical artifacts using advanced scientific techniques
- Chemical composition studies of historical inks across different cultures and time periods
- Development of standard protocols for identifying writing media
- Multidisciplinary approaches to understanding manuscript production and preservation
- Analysis of color usage in historical maps and documents
- Non-invasive examination methods for valuable cultural artifacts
His extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on the material aspects of written culture, with particular attention to ink composition across different historical periods and geographical regions. Professor Hahn's research often involves collaborative, interdisciplinary teams bringing together expertise from chemistry, physics, art history, and manuscript studies. His work has significant implications for cultural heritage preservation, authentication of historical documents, and understanding historical technological practices.
Professor Hahn has been actively involved in major research initiatives including the Cluster of Excellence 'Understanding Written Artefacts' (2019-2026) where he leads projects on the 'Recovery of Damaged Writing' and 'History of Writing: Black Inks and Writing Surfaces.' Previously, he participated in the SFB 950 'Manuscript Cultures in Asia, Africa and Europe' (2011-2020), leading scientific service projects focused on material-scientific methods for reconstructing manuscript history.
His laboratory work involves sophisticated analytical techniques including XRF, DRIFTS, and other non-invasive methods for examining historical artifacts. He is an integral member of the CSMC Mobile Lab team, which develops portable analytical equipment for on-site examination of valuable manuscripts in cultural institutions worldwide, making advanced material analysis accessible to collections that cannot transport fragile artifacts to specialized laboratories.
