The Archive Quest
A global expedition to locate, preserve, and digitize humanity's most precious astronomical manuscripts before they're lost forever
Scattered across continents, hidden in ancient libraries, and sometimes forgotten in private collections, approximately 10,000 manuscripts from the Islamic Golden Age await discovery and preservation. Each represents centuries of scientific genius—mathematical breakthroughs, astronomical theories, and observational precision, and cosmic insights that changed human understanding forever.
Time is not on our side. Environmental threats, political instability, and simple neglect claim irreplaceable manuscripts every year. The Qamar Codex mission begins with a race against time to locate, document, and preserve these treasures before they vanish into history.
Global Manuscript Locations
Istanbul, Turkey
Süleymaniye Library
One of the world's most extensive collections of Islamic manuscripts. Houses thousands of astronomical and mathematical texts in excellent preservation conditions, representing the heart of the Ottoman scholarly tradition.
~3,500 Astronomical Manuscripts
Doha, Qatar
Museum of Islamic Art
State-of-the-art climate-controlled facility housing priceless astronomical instruments and manuscripts. Includes rare eclipse calculations and astrolabe construction manuals.
~800 Astronomical Manuscripts
Bamako, Mali
Timbuktu Manuscripts Project
Rescued manuscripts from Timbuktu, evacuated during 2012-2013 insurgency. Many contain significant astronomical and mathematical knowledge, now facing humidity and mold threats.
~2,000 Astronomical Manuscripts
Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Ulugh Beg Observatory Archive
Home to manuscripts from Ulugh Beg's astronomical school, including the famous Zij-i-Sultani star catalog—the most accurate of its time. Many texts remain uncatalogued.
~1,200 Astronomical Manuscripts
Jakarta, Indonesia
National Library & Private Collections
Surprising repository of Islamic astronomical texts brought by traders and scholars. Many manuscripts focus on practical astronomy for navigation and religious timing.
~900 Astronomical Manuscripts
Beijing, China
National Library & University Collections
Manuscripts documenting Islamic astronomical influence on Chinese calendar reform and navigation. Represents unique cross-cultural scientific exchange.
~400 Astronomical Manuscripts
The Timbuktu Emergency: A Warning
In 2012, as insurgents approached the historic city of Timbuktu, librarians and scholars worked through the night to evacuate thousands of priceless manuscripts—many containing astronomical and mathematical knowledge dating back centuries. These texts, once preserved in the desert's dry climate, now face new threats in humid storage facilities hundreds of miles away.
Current Crisis:
Many Timbuktu manuscripts now face the twin dangers of humidity and mold in their non-desert locations. Without immediate preservation action, centuries of astronomical knowledge could be lost forever—demonstrating why the Qamar Codex mission is so urgent.
Expedition Challenges
Hidden Treasures
Many manuscripts remain uncatalogued or misidentified in private collections and smaller libraries. Our team must work with local scholars to identify astronomical content within broader manuscript collections.
Environmental Threats
Climate change, humidity, temperature fluctuations, and inadequate storage facilities threaten manuscript integrity. Some locations lack proper climate control systems.
Cultural Sensitivity
Building trust with local communities and institutions requires deep cultural understanding and collaborative partnerships that respect local ownership and traditions.
Political Instability
Regional conflicts and political changes can suddenly restrict access to collections or threaten manuscript safety, as demonstrated by the Timbuktu evacuation.
Technical Complexity
High-resolution scanning equipment must be transported globally while ensuring manuscripts are never damaged during the digitization process.
Race Against Time
Every year of delay means potential loss of irreplaceable manuscripts. The clock is ticking on preserving this knowledge for lunar archiving.
Preservation Methodology
1. Location & Authentication
Partner with local institutions to identify and authenticate astronomical manuscripts using scholarly networks and historical records.
2. High-Resolution Scanning
Deploy portable 600 DPI scanning equipment to create perfect digital reproductions without damaging original manuscripts.
3. Scholarly Analysis
Work with Islamic astronomy experts to identify the most significant manuscripts for lunar preservation priority.
4. Digital Archive Creation
Build comprehensive digital database accessible to scholars worldwide, ensuring knowledge preservation beyond physical manuscripts.
