While the study of artefacts is one of the core topics of some humanities disciplines, other humanities and social science disciplines have only recently begun to (re)focus on artefacts and their embedding in changing social and historical contexts. The unique combination of empirical-descriptive and systematic-normative expertise on artefacts available at the University of Münster makes it possible to focus on new perspectives: Thus, the different ways in which time and artefacts relate to each other and mutually influence and shape each other are examined from different disciplinary perspectives. Furthermore, artefacts are understood as material and immaterial entities, contrary to the prevailing tendency in the humanities to equate artefacts with material objects or ‘things’.
Access to Cultural Goods in the Digital Transformation
Centre for Advanced Study
Ongoing research projects
- Access to Cultural Goods in the Digital Transformation (Centre for Advanced Study, funded since 2023 by the DFG)“Tell Iẓṭabba (Nysa-Skythopolis) — a Seleucid foundation in the Near East” (Research project, funded by the DFG since 2022)Comprehensive Papyrology and Digital Study of Ancient Manuscripts (Strategic project, funded by the Volkswagen Foundation since 2022)“Studies on the methodology and significance of diachronic settlement analyses in Prehistoric Archaeology A meta-analysis based on datasets from the central uplands in Germany” (Research project, funded by the DFG since 2022).Textilland/Landtextil (cooperation project to promote collaboration between the museum and university, to strengthen knowledge transfer and to promote young academics; funded since 2021 by the LWL and the Association of Friends of the LWL Open-Air Museum Detmold)„Julius Otto Grimm in Münster“ (Forschungs- und Lehrprojekt gefördert seit 2021 von der Universitätsgesellschaft Münster, dem Stadtarchiv Münster und SAFIR)Digitalisierung der Santini-Sammlung (Digitalisierungsprojekt, seit 2021 gefördert vom Bistum Münster)Material Mediators Medieval Material Culture at the Crossroads of Sacred and Secular Connotations (Subproject A3-8 of the EXC 2060 Religion und Politics, funded by the DFG since 2019)Tradition and innovation of Graeco-Phoenician myths and cults in Roman Provincial Coinage (Subproject A3-3 of the EXC 2060 Religion and Politics, funded by the DFG since 2019)“Euphrates, Protective Shield?” – Religious Diversity and Cultural Identity in the Roman Middle East Between Tradition and Construction (Subproject A3-13 of the EXC 2060 Religion and Politics, funded by the DFG since 2019)„Artaxata in Armenien – Feldforschungen in einer hellenistischen Metropole in der Ararat-Ebene“ (Forschungsprojekt, gefördert seit 2019 von der DFG)“Between Cilician Taurus and Tigris - Glazed Pottery of the 8th to the 15th Century as Indicator of Cultural Changes?” (Research project, funded by the DFG since 2018)„Corpus Musicae Ottomanicae“ (Langfristvorhaben gefördert seit 2015 von der DFG)
Completed research projects
- A new early Christian cult building of ancient northern Syria and its mosaics – the basilica in Doliche (Lighthouse project funded in 2024 by the Universitätsgesellschaft Münster)Consumer revolution and changes in household consumption as reflected in estate registers from the 16th to the early 19th century in north-west Germany (Research project, funded by the DFG in 2020–2024)“Visit of Collection as Epistemic Practice in the Scientific Community of Geosciences between 1765 and 1807” (Research project, funded by the DFG in 2019–2023)„Schriftkultur und Wirtschaftsleben im spätantiken Ephesos. Neue Ostraka und Inschriften auf Gebrauchskeramik“ (Forschungsprojekt, gefördert 2019–2022 von der DFG)„Das Skulptur Projekte Archiv Münster. Eine Forschungseinrichtung für die Wissenschaft und die Öffentlichkeit“ (Forschungsprojekt, gefördert 2017–2020 von der VolkswagenStiftung)„Zur deutschen Dominanz der Musik in Norwegen 1930–45“ (Forschungsprojekt, gefördert 2017–2021 von der DFG)„Überlieferungsweisen – Betrachtungsweisen – Gebrauchsweisen: Bedeutungszuweisungen an Artefakte der Hellseherei in Europa vom 17. bis zum frühen 20. Jahrhundert“ (Forschungsprojekt, gefördert 2017–2021 von der DFG)„Der Lauf der Dinge oder Privatbesitz? Ein Haus und seine Objekte zwischen Familienleben, Ressourcenwirtschaft und Museum“ (Forschungsverbund gefördert 2015–2018 vom BMBF)“Muslims as a religious minority in Uganda” (Research project, funded by the DFG in 2014–2024)Johann Crügers Geistliche Kirchen-Melodien (1649) (Editionsprojekt, 2013–2014)
Involved researchers
- Prof. Dr. Alexander ArweilerProf. Dr. Hans Beckapl. Prof. Dr. phil. Valeska Beckerapl. Prof. Dr. Michael BlömerProf. Dr. Michael CustodisJun.-Prof. Dr. Christine FertigProf. Dr. Ursula FrohneProf. Dr. Ralf GleserProf. Dr. Jürgen HeidrichProf. Dr. Ralf Martin JägerProf. Dr. Lioba Keller-DrescherProf. Dr. Jan KeuppProf. Dr. Achim LichtenbergerDr. Katharina MartinProf. Dr. Walter MeschProf. Dr. Carla Meyer-SchlenkrichDr. Jan MieraPD Dr. Peter SchmitzProf. Dr. Reinold SchmückerProf. Dr. Oliver R. ScholzDr. Torben SchreiberProf. Dr. Dorothea SchulzProf. Dr. Eva StauchProf. Dr. Niko StrobachDr. Claudia TappertProf. Dr. Engelbert Winter
Involved institutions
- Centre of Eastern Mediterranean History and CultureDepartment of Ancient HistoryDepartment of PhilosophyDepartment of Social and Cultural AnthropologyDivision of Pre- and Protohistoric ArchaeologyInstitute for Classical Archaeology and Christian Archaeology / Archaeological MuseumInstitute for Classical PhilologyInstitute for Cultural Anthropology/European EthnologyInstitute for MusicologyInstitute of Art HistoryNetwork Archaeology DiagonalResearch Centre Asia MinorResearch Centre for Ancient NumismaticsResearch network Numismatics in Münster