Wilfried Rosendahl studied geology, paleontology, prehistory and early history, and zoology at the University of Cologne from 1986 to 1992. Directly after receiving his diploma in 1992, he began his doctoral studies, which he completed in 1994. While still a student, Rosendahl worked on various projects at museums and curated exhibitions on natural and cultural history topics.
Building on his scientific work on the ice-age fauna of Central Europe, he worked from 1996 to 1998 on an EU project on the Pleistocene environment at the Institute of Paleontology at the University of Bonn. The topic of man, climate, and the environment with a special focus on caves and cave contents was the main focus of research as a research associate and assistant at the Institute for Applied Geosciences at the Technical University of Darmstadt from 1998 to 2003. In addition, Rosendahl continued to work as an external curator at various museums in Germany and abroad.
At the beginning of 2004, he moved to the museum complex of the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen in Mannheim (rem) where he initially worked as a curator, head of collections, and head of the department.[1] Since 2016, he was director for the area "Archaeology and World Cultures" and since 2017 deputy general director for the entire museum complex. In the summer of 2020, he was confirmed as Director-General for the rem and rem gGmbH Stiftungsmuseen, beginning 1 January 2021.[2][3] Rosendahl succeeds Alfried Wieczorek.[4] He is also Director of the Curt Engelhorn Center for Art and Cultural History, where he leads the German Mummy Project, a large, interdisciplinary, and internationally active mummy research project.[5] Furthermore, Rosendahl is Chairman of the Board of the Curt-Engelhorn Foundation and the Blackberry Foundation at the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums, as well as Scientific Director and one of the Managing Directors of the Curt-Engelhorn-Zentrum Archäometrie gGmbH.[6][7]
In his function as managing director of Museums Management Mannheim GmbH, he is responsible for passing on exhibitions of the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums to national and international museum partners. The focus of his teaching activities at the Institute of History at the University of Mannheim is on the topic of "knowledge transfer and museum practice" as well as the application of scientific methods in the historical sciences.[8][9]
Other commitments and memberships
Member of the board of directors of the West and South German Association for Antiquities
Member of the board of the Mannheimer Altertumsverein von 1859
Member of the board of trustees of the Technoseum, Landesmuseum für Technik und Arbeit Mannheim
Member of the Board of Trustees of Verein Kurpfalz e. V.
Member of the board of the Institut Français Mannheim, Deutsch-Französisches Kulturzentrum in der Europäischen Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar e.V.
Corresponding member of the Subcommission Quaternary of the German Stratigraphic Commission
Member of the section GeoTopes and GeoParks of the German Geological Society - Geological Association (DGGV)
Member of the Förderkreis Archäologie in Baden e. V.
Member of the Working Group Cave & Karst Grabenstetten e.V.
Member of the Association of Friends of Art, and Culture in Mining e.V.
Publications
Monographs
Rosendahl, W.; Darga, R.; Kühn, R.; Pacher, M (2000). Der Höhlenbär in Bayern. München: Verlag Dr. F. Pfeil. p. 48. ISBN978-3-931516-82-6.
Rosendahl, W.; Junker, B.; Megerle, A.; Vogt, J., eds. (2006). Wanderungen in die Erdgeschichte - Schwäbische Alb.- Wanderungen in die Erdgeschichte. München: Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil. p. 16018. ISBN978-3-89937-065-2.
Wieczorek, A.; Rosendahl, W., eds. (2003). MenschenZeit - Geschichten vom Aufbruch der frühen Menschen. Mainz: Verlag Philipp von Zabern. p. 130. ISBN978-3-8053-3132-6.
Kempe, S.; Rosendahl, W., eds. (2008). Höhlen. Verborgene Welten. Darmstadt. p. 168.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Rosendahl, W.; Schieber, M., eds. (2009). Der Stein der Schwaben - Natur- und Kulturgeschichte des Suevits. Stuttgart: Staatsanzeiger-Verl. p. 603. ISBN978-3-929981-78-0.
Wieczorek, A.; Rosendahl, W. (2010). Mummies of the World. Munich, New York. p. 384.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Fiedler, L.; Rosendahl, G.; Rosendahl, W. (2011). Altsteinzeit von A - Z. Darmstadt: WBG. p. 415.
Gill-Frerking, H.; Rosendahl, W.; Zink, A.; Alterauge, A., eds. (2014). Yearbook of Mummy Studies. München: Pfeil-Verlag. p. 1922.
Wieczorek, A.; Rosendahl, W., eds. (2015). Mumien - der Traum vom ewigen Leben. Darmstadt: Zabern. p. 376. ISBN978-3-8053-4939-0.
Rosendahl, G.; Döppes, D.; Friedland, S.N.; Rosendahl, W. (2016). Eiszeit-Safari: Reisebegleiter. München: Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil. p. 224. ISBN978-3-89937-204-5.
Rosendahl, W.; Madea, B., eds. (2017). Tatorte der Vergangenheit. Archäologie und Forensik. Darmstadt: Konrad Theiss Verlag. p. 144. ISBN978-3-8062-3645-3.
Busch, U.; Rosendahl, W., eds. (2019). Die Welt im Durchblick. Wunder moderner Röntgentechnik. Darmstadt. p. 160.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Rosendahl, W.; Huth, T.; Junker, B.; Geyer, M.; Megerle, A., eds. (2019). Entlang des Rheins von Basel bis Mannheim.- Wanderungen in die Erdgeschichte. München. p. 16038. ISBN978-3-89937-240-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Kümper, H.; Rosendahl, W., eds. (2020). Unsterblichkeit – Traum oder Trauma. Oppenheim: Nünnerich-Asmus Verlag. p. 152. ISBN978-3-96176-083-1.
Busch, U.; Rosendahl, W., eds. (2020). Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen – den X-Strahlen auf der Spur. 50 Stätten zur Entdeckung, Geschichte, Anwendung der Röntgenstrahlen in Deutschland und Nachbarländern. Oppenheim: Nünnerich-Asmus Verlag. p. 136. ISBN978-3-96176-137-1.
Sui, C. W.; Herrmann, S.; Rosendahl, W. (2021). In 80 Bildern um die Welt - Reisefotografien aus dem 19. und 20. Jahrhundert. Oppenheim: Nünnerich-Asmus Verlag. p. 128. ISBN978-3-96176-150-0.
Editions (publisher, co-editor or co-worker)
Rosendahl, W. (2001). Zum Oberpleistozän in der hessischen Oberrheinebene - Geologie und Paläontologie. (Exkursion A am 17. April 2001). Vol. 83. Stuttgart. pp. 37–50. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Rosendahl, W. (2002). Neues zur Altersstellung des fossilen Menschenschädels von Rhünda (Schwalm-Eder-Kreis), Hessen. Vol. 32. Mainz. pp. 15–19. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Rosendahl, W.; Maureille, B.; Trinkaus, E. (2003). Rediscovery of the Badegoule 5 human skeletal remains. Le Lardin-Saint-Lazare, Dordogne, France: Badegoule. pp. 273–278.
Burger, J.; Rosendahl, W.; Loreille, O.; Hemmer, H.; Eriksson, T.; Götherström, A.; Hiller, J.; Collins, M. J.; Wess, T.; Alt, K. W. (2004). Molecular phylogeny of the cave lion Panthera leo spelaea. Vol. 30. pp. 841–849. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
Rosendahl, W. (2005). Ulrich, H. (ed.). Le Moustier 3 - A second Le Moustier Neanderthal discovery by Otto Hauser. Vol. 12. Berlin. pp. 73–76. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Rosendahl, G.; Beinhauer, K. W.; Löscher, M.; Kreipl, K.; Walter, R.; Rosendahl, W. (2006). Le plus vieil arc du monde? Une pièce intéressante en provenance de Mannheim, Allemagne. Vol. 110. Paris. pp. 371–382. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Rosendahl, W.; Döppes, D.; Kempe, S. (2007). Sirocko, F.; Claussen, M.; Sànchez Goñi, M.F.; Litt, T. (eds.). MIS 5 - MIS 8 - Numerically dated palaeontological caves sites in Central Europe. Vol. 7. Amsterdam. pp. 455–470. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Döppes, D.; Kempe, S.; Rosendahl, W. (2008). Dated Paleontological cave sites of Central Europe from Late Middle Pleistocene to early Upper Pleistocene (OIS 6 to OIS 8). Vol. 187. Amsterdam. pp. 97–104. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Musshoff, F.; Rosendahl, W.; Madea, B. (2009). "Determination of nicotine in hair samples of pre-Columbian mummies". Forensic Science International. 185 (1–3). Amsterdam: 84–88. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.12.016. PMID19201115.
Stiller, M.; Baryshnikov, G.; Bocherens, H.; Grandal D'anglade; Hilpert, B.; Münzel, S.C.; Pinhasi, R.; Rabeder, G.; Rosendahl, W.; Trinkaus, E.; Hofreiter, M.; Knapp, M. (2010). Withering away - 25,000 years of genetic decline preceded cave bear extinction. Vol. 27. Oxford. pp. 975–978. doi:10.1093/molbev/msq083. PMID20335279. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Gill-Frerking, H.; Rosendahl, W. (2011). Use of Computed Tomography and Three-Dimensional Virtual Reconstruction for the Examination of a 16th Century Mummified Dog from a North German Peat Bog. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
Joger, U.; Rosendahl, W. (2012). The Rübeland Caves (Harz Mts.) - Historical excavations and modern analyses. Vol. 11. Braunschweig. pp. 55–68. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Stiller, S.; Molak, M.; Prost, S.; Rohland, N.; Pacher, M.; Rabeder, G.; Baryshnikov, G.; Rosendahl, W.; Münzel, S.; Bocherens, H.; Grandal-D'anglade, A.; Hilpert, B.; Germonpre, M.; Stasyk, O.; Pinhasi, R.; Tintori, A.; Ho, S.; Hofreiter, M.; Knapp, M. (2013). Mitochondrial DNA diversity and evolution of the Pleistocene cave bear complex. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
Döppes, D.; Rosendahl, W. (2014). Vom 3D-Scann bis zum 3D-Druck - Allgemeine Grundlagen und Praxisbeispiele aus dem Museumbereich. Vol. 60. Bremen. pp. 36–43. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Rosendahl, W.; Orschiedt, J.; Baales, M. (2014). Wiederentdeckt! Die jungpaläolithischen" Menschenreste aus der Honert-Höhle bei Balve. Münster. pp. 16–20. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Zesch, S.; Panzer, S.; Rosendahl, W.; Schoenberg, O.; Henzler, T. (2016). From first to latest imaging technology: Revisiting the first mummy investigated with X-ray in 1896 by using dual-energy computed tomography. Vol. 3. London. pp. 172–181. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Drucker, D.; Rosendahl, W.; Van Neer, W.; Görner, I.; Bocherens, H. (2016). Environment and subsistence in northwestern Europe during the Younger Dryas: an isotopic study of the human of Rhünda (Germany). Vol. 6. London. pp. 690–699. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Hajdua, T.; György-Toronyic, A.; Pap, I.; Rosendahl, W.; Szabó, G. (2016). Anthropological and archaeological data to the chronology and meaning of the Transdanubian encrusted pottery decoration. Vol. 91. Berlin. pp. 353–368. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Paijmans, J. L. A.; Barlow, A.; Förster, D. W.; Henneberger, K.; Meyer, M.; Nickel, B.; Nagel, D.; Havmøller, R. W.; Baryshnikov, G.F.; Joger, U.; Rosendahl, W.; Hofreiter, M. (2018). istorical biogeography of the leopard (Panthera pardus) and its extinct Eurasian Populations. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
Jellinghaus, K.; Urban, P. K.; Hachmann, C.; Bohnert, M.; Hotz, G.; Rosendahl, W.; Wittwer-Backofen, U. (2019). "Collagen degradation as a possibility to determine the post-mortem interval (PMI) of human bones in a forensic context – A survey". Legal Medicine. 36. London: 96–102. doi:10.1016/j.legalmed.2018.11.009. PMID30500672. S2CID54485034.
Bego-Ghina, B.; Rosendahl, W. (2020). Thomsen-Fürst, R. (ed.). Wenn der Himmel zürnt – Wetterphänomene in der Zeit von Leopold Mozart mit einem besonderen Blick auf Gewitter, Blitzschlag und Brandbekämpfung. Vol. 3. Heidelberg. pp. 157–172. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Panzer, S.; Augat, P.; Sprenger, M.; Zesch, S.; Rosendahl, W.; Sutherland. M. L.; Thompson, R.C.; Palading, A.; Zink, A. (2021). For the EURAC and HORUS Study Teams (2021): Correlation of atherosclerosis and osteoarthritis in ancient Egypt: A standardized evaluation of 45 whole-body CT examinations. Vol. 33. London. pp. 137–145. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)