This work is focussed on the precolonial Mesoamerican codices. Less than twenty of these rare books still exist today. The main questions are how were these objects made, and for what were... Show more This work is focussed on the precolonial Mesoamerican codices. Less than twenty of these rare books still exist today. The main questions are how were these objects made, and for what were they used. The author also looked at why so few of these books remain today and how they have been reproduced in more recent times. One special aspect of this research was the investigation of one specific book, the codex Añute, held at the Bodleian Libraries of the University of Oxford. This book is a known palimpsest. By understanding its physical composition, new techniques could be developed to investigate this palimpsest and recover new pictographic texts from underneath the surfaces. Show less
Starburst galaxies undergo a phase of vigorous star formation. In these galaxies, gas is turned into stars at such a high rate, that the reservoir of available gas is quickly emptied. Numerous... Show moreStarburst galaxies undergo a phase of vigorous star formation. In these galaxies, gas is turned into stars at such a high rate, that the reservoir of available gas is quickly emptied. Numerous massive, bright star clusters are created from the giant molecular clouds. They form an ideal laboratory for the study of rapid star formation. In this thesis, a detailed study of active star-forming regions in the starburst galaxies NGC 4038/4039 and M83 is presented. Sincethe stars are hidden from view by large quantities of dust, we observe them at infrared wavelengths. We address the properties of the newly formed star clusters and the surrounding interstellar matter. Show less
