The project “Safeguarding the manuscripts of Timbuktu”: a synergic approach to the preservation of written cultural heritage

The paper presents the project “Safeguarding the manuscripts of Timbuktu” coordinated by the Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures (CSMC), University of Hamburg. The project was set up following the dramatic events of 2012 that led to the evacuation of many manuscript collections from Timbuktu to Bamako where the manuscripts have since suffered from environmental hazards and inappropriate storage. The paper discusses the project’s aims and methods, challenges and solutions, with a focus on the issues of preservation and accessibility for research. The collaborative approach that was adopted at different stages of the project is addressed by highlighting the importance of synergy between “operating” measures and educational initiatives both from Malian and international institutions.