ABSTRACT
This chapter presents several projects on the reconstruction of historical data in archives and old documents and their use. A particular focus lies on the Witsen project and the Pallas project. Embedded within the framework of a number of international research projects, historical language material has been safeguarded and published. This concerns not only texts, but also sound recordings. The reconstruction of data from endangered (sound) archives provides material that can be used for the study and teaching of (endangered) minority languages, many of which are spoken in Siberia (Voices from Tundra and Taiga). This reconstruction work can be considered as one of tasks of the Foundation for Siberian Cultures, about which information is provided. As an illustration, some specific examples are presented of severely endangered and extinct languages, such as Itelmen, Ainu and Nivkh in Eastern Asia and North-Frisian in Western Europe. The recorded material is stored in digital databases and can be applied to the study, teaching and safeguarding of endangered languages and cultures.
