Ever wonder where scholars delve into the mysteries of ancient America? Right here at the Bibliothek Altamerikanistik. It is part of the Institut für Archäologie und Kulturanthropologie. Specifically, it is the отделение for Altamerikanistik in Bonn.
The Bibliothek Altamerikanistik is a treasure trove. It holds over 50,000 media items. These items span the pre-Hispanic colonial and modern Americas. The library’s focus areas include archaeology and ethnology. Ethnohistory, religion and linguistics are also key.
Notably, the Bibliothek Altamerikanistik boasts extensive collections. They cover Amerindian languages and indigenous writing systems. There are also collections of historical sources. Theoretical literature and various compendiums enhance the library. A growing collection of electronic media is available too. Over 40 journals are always kept up-to-date. There are volumes of 600 more journals. Many come from Latin America. Books are arranged regionally and by subject. This makes browsing easier.
The Bibliothek Altamerikanistik operates under special rules. Most books can be borrowed for up to seven days. The library is open Monday to Friday from 10 AM to 4 PM. It is closed on public holidays. Any special closures are announced online. The library team provides information. They help with book loans and general inquiries.
In January, the Bibliothek Altamerikanistik highlighted the theme of “time.” This was explored through the lens of the Maya civilization. The Maya used several calendars for rituals and civic life. These calendars used a base-20 system for counting days. The Tzolkin calendar served ritual purposes. The Haab calendar was for civil use. The Long Count tracked longer periods. It helped with astronomy and recording history. The library featured “The Materialization of Time in the Ancient Maya World”. This book explores how the Maya made time tangible. They did this through architecture, arts, writing and beliefs.
To use the Bibliothek Altamerikanistik fully, registration is needed. A form requires name, birthdate, address and contact details. Students and external users need to show ID. Users must report changes to their information promptly. A maximum of five books can be borrowed. Each book requires a loan slip. The standard loan period is four weeks. Extensions are possible unless someone else wants the book.
Books with a red dot cannot be borrowed. These include general introductions and rare books. Copies can only be made with staff permission. New acquisitions have a yellow dot. These may only be borrowed with a lecturer’s permission. Journals cannot be borrowed at all.
The Bibliothek Altamerikanistik also provides various research tools. These include the University and State Library catalog. There is also the HBZ union catalog. The library’s holdings are primarily accessible via the University catalog.
From 2019 to 2022, the department cooperated with the University Library. They worked to index the research library of Hanns J. Prem and Ursula Dyckerhoff. Prem taught Altamerikanistik from 1988 to 2003. He left his library to the department. Prem and Dyckerhoff built the library together. It contains rare editions and hard-to-find publications. The library covers writing, calendars, linguistics, and more.
The goal is to integrate the Prem/Dyckerhoff collection. It also encourages researchers to study Prem and Dyckerhoff’s legacy.
The Bibliothek Altamerikanistik is located at Oxfordstrasse 15. It is an essential resource. It supports the study of ancient American cultures in Bonn. Please remember no food or drinks are allowed inside. Let’s step inside this wonderful archive.