MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR WISSENSCHAFTSGESCHICHTE Max Planck Institute for the History of Science

Event

Dec 11, 2025
Metals and Value in the Precolonial Americas

This focused visit offers an in-depth engagement with Prof. Thomas B. F. Cummins, Dumbarton Oaks Professor of Pre-Columbian and Colonial Art at Harvard University. The program begins with a guided tour of the Mesoamerican collection led by Dr. Ute Schüren, Curator of American Archaeology, Mesoamerica Collection, Ethnologisches Museum, followed by a discussion in the Andean America section. We will continue with a presentation of the Lienzo Seler II and conclude with a handling session in the study room.

This seminar is based on the At the Altar of the Metaphysics of Materials Talk.

  • Schedule

    13:45 

    Arrival at entrance foyer (ground floor) Humboldt Forum, Schlossplatz 1, 10178 Berlin. Please store bags and coats in the cloakroom or lockers.
    14:00 Meeting point at the Mediensäule
    14:05–14:35 Guided tour of the Mesoamerican collection with Ute Schüren
    14:35–14:45 Transition to the Andean America section
    14:45–15:00 Tour and discussion with Thomas Cummins on Andean materials
    15:00–15:15 Presentation of the Lienzo Seler II with Ute Schüren
    15:15–16:00/16:15 Handling session in the study room with Thomas Cummins

     

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Contact and Registration

Please register in advance using by clicking here.

Places are limited to 16 participants and booking will remain open until December 4.  The entrance fee to the Humboldt Forum will be covered by Department AAK.

2025-12-11T14:00:00SAVE IN I-CAL 2025-12-11 14:00:00 2025-12-11 16:00:00 Metals and Value in the Precolonial Americas This focused visit offers an in-depth engagement with Prof. Thomas B. F. Cummins, Dumbarton Oaks Professor of Pre-Columbian and Colonial Art at Harvard University. The program begins with a guided tour of the Mesoamerican collection led by Dr. Ute Schüren, Curator of American Archaeology, Mesoamerica Collection, Ethnologisches Museum, followed by a discussion in the Andean America section. We will continue with a presentation of the Lienzo Seler II and conclude with a handling session in the study room. This seminar is based on the At the Altar of the Metaphysics of Materials Talk. Schedule 13:45  Arrival at entrance foyer (ground floor) Humboldt Forum, Schlossplatz 1, 10178 Berlin. Please store bags and coats in the cloakroom or lockers. 14:00 Meeting point at the Mediensäule 14:05–14:35 Guided tour of the Mesoamerican collection with Ute Schüren 14:35–14:45 Transition to the Andean America section 14:45–15:00 Tour and discussion with Thomas Cummins on Andean materials 15:00–15:15 Presentation of the Lienzo Seler II with Ute Schüren 15:15–16:00/16:15 Handling session in the study room with Thomas Cummins   Rand El ZeinJosephine Fenger Rand El ZeinJosephine Fenger Europe/Berlin public