“Matenadaran” Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, as a state non-commercial organisation, is a repository of ancient manuscripts, research institute and museum in Yerevan, Armenia. The fellow is expected to a specialist of Ottoman language teaching, restoration, codicology, history, paleography or miniature art. 

The Matenadaran as a host organisation is ready to suggest several fellowship activities:: 

  • First range of activities is related to Ottoman language teaching. There is a significant number of specialists at the Matenadaran who study Ottoman language. Thus, the Institute will be pleased to host a Specialist who will conduct Ottoman language courses for intermediate and high-intermediate levels.
  • The Matenadaran, as one of the richest repositories of ancient manuscripts in the World preserves in its collection 400 Ottoman manuscripts and 340 archival documents. Specialists who are interested in codicology, paleography and history, who would like to decipher and interpret the Ottoman texts are also welcome to be a Fellow at our Institute. 
  • The preserved manuscripts are rich with miniatures, which also need profound examination. Art historians who would like to study miniature art of Ottoman manuscripts or the history of scriptoriums can also be hosted at the Matenadaran.
  • The Matenadaran has the biggest Restoration Department of the region. The department is engaged in conservation and restoration of paper and old manuscripts written on parchment, archival documents, miniatures and graphic works. The Ottoman manuscripts preserved at the Institute require special approach of restoration. Especially restorers of Ottoman manuscript bindings are needed who would study the original manuscripts at place with the leading specialists of the Matenadaran and exchange their professional skills.
  • Within the framework of the project it is possible to implement also joint research activities with the specialists of the Matenadaran in the following areas:
    1. Description of Ottoman religious manuscripts kept at  the Matenadaran
    2. Study of Ottoman religious manuscripts kept at  the Matenadaran
    3. Study of manuscripts written in Turkic languages with Armenian letters and vice versa (manuscripts written in Armenian with Turkish letters), Kipchak languages and etc. 

EXPECTED PROFILE

As mentioned above the Institute can host a Fellow in several fields, but for each field it is required to have high-qualified specialist preferably with at least PhD degree (or equivalent) or years of experience. For the final selection of the candidates, a skype call meeting will be organized.

For Ottoman language teaching course it is expected that the Fellow will implement the following activities:

  • Conduct language course for intermediate and high intermediate levels
  • Read and translate the texts in Ottoman language kept at the Matenadaran
  • Organize discussions 

For the spheres of codicology, paleography, miniature art:

  • Study the Ottoman manuscripts and archival documents, decipher and interpret the texts, study the miniatures and analyze them with the specialists of the Matenadaran

For restoration field:

  • Study the bindings of the Ottoman manuscripts
  • Conduct master-classes for the specialists of the Matenadaran about the techniques and particularities of bindings of Ottoman manuscripts restoration and conservation
  • Participate in restoration and conservation process and collaborate with the specialists at place.

In general, it is expected that the Fellow will develop productive relationships with other members of staff and establish fruitful cooperation which will be continuous also after the end of the project.

CONDITIONS OF THE FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY

The office hours of  Matenadaran are from Tuesday to Saturday, between 10:00 to 17:00). The days off are Sunday and Monday. The Fellows will have the opportunity to discuss with the specialists the convenient hours and days to lead their fellowship, which can be flexible.  

The fellowship will be implemented in Yerevan, Armenia.

PROPOSED TIME FOR THE FELLOWSHIP 

Preferred duration for each field are the followings:

For Ottoman language teaching course: 6 months (the days will be fixed at place)

For joint research activities: 6 months

For restoration activities: 4 months

For each activity the timeframe is between October 2017 and June 2018.