The document discusses the formation and activities of the Chaldean Heritage Work Group established by Icarus to preserve the ancient Iraqi Christian written heritage, led by Dr. Csaba B. Stenge. It details initiatives including training for conservators, donations of equipment, and assessment visits to Iraq by Icarus members to support the Digital Center of Oriental Manuscripts. The overall situation for these archives is tense due to regional conflicts, necessitating international support for the preservation of this vital cultural heritage.

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