Csaba B. Stenge The Chaldean Heritage Work Group – A Mission by ICARUS to Help Preserve the Ancient Iraqi Christian Written Heritage ICARUS-Meeting #20 | The Age of Digital Technology: Documents, Archives and Society 23–25 October 2017, Complutense University Madrid, Calle del Prof. Aranguren, 28040 Madrid, Spain

1. The Age of Technology: Documents, Archives and Society ICARUS Meeting#20 24 October 2017 Universidad Complutense de
Madrid, Spain
Dr. Csaba B. Stenge Ph.D. – Director of Tatabánya City Archives
The Chaldean Heritage Work Group
A Mission by ICARUS to Help Preserve the Ancient
Iraqi Christian Written Heritage

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Introduction
How the Chaldean Heritage Work Group was formed
- ICARUS-Meeting#16 in Sankt Pölten, Austria (23-25 November, 2015)
Archive material in the Middle East between menace and solidary
support
- Dominican Friar Michaeel Najeeb (The rescue of archives and libraries
in Mosul)
- He is the founder (in 1990) of the Digital Center of Oriental Manuscripts
(Centre Numérique des Manuscrits Orientaux, CNMO)
- Pioneer work in this subject

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Books about Fr. Najeeb’s immensely important activity and collection:

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How ICARUS helps the CNMO
- After the presentation of Fr. Najeeb in St. Pölten, the leadership of
ICARUS immediately formed the „Chaldean Heritage Work Group”
- Quidenus Technologies donated a book scanner
- „Conservators Without Frontiers” was founded (President Patricia Engel)
- AUGIAS-Data donated a directory software

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How ICARUS helps the CNMO
2016
- From 28 November to 4 December, 2016 Nikolas Sarris, a book and
paper conservator from the National Library of Greece was sent to Iraq
(Erbil)
- delivered basic preservation training to the CNMO staff
- helped to install the book scanner and trained the CNMO staff
- helped Fr. Najeeb to collect some surviving written materials of the
recently liberated areas

6. More info at Insights 1/2017 issue pp. 9-13.
http://documents.icar-us.eu/documents/2017/08/insights-12017-eng.pdf
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How ICARUS helps the CNMO
2017
- Fr. Najeeb got online instructions how to use the AUGIAS-Data
software
- From 15 September to 19 September, 2017 I was in Iraq (Erbil)
- I tried to assess the different parts of the collection
- Assessed the needs of the CNMO in every important aspects for the
future help
- Strengthen our partnership with Fr. Najeeb and CNMO (presence)
- Visited the northern part of Nineveh-valley (Telsqof, Batnaya)

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Current situation
Situation is pretty tense (Kurdish referendum)
- Digitized materials are kept outside of Iraq as well
- ICARUS will transfer a significant amount of protection and preserve
materials to Erbil (through the Consulate General of Hungary)
- A new delegation will go to Erbil in the future
Conclusion
CHWG is a fine example of the greatness of the ICARUS community and
network:
when a tragedy-stricken community appeared
immediate react and effective help to preserve its crucial historical heritage

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Thank you for your attention!
csaba.b.stenge@gmail.com