Researching the origin of medieval manuscripts

Background

•        Medieval manuscripts - handwritten books produced between the fifth and fifteenth centuries
•        Origin of many manuscripts unknown until 2009; scientists started using DNA testing

Animal hides - two types

Parchment

Sheep skin: white in colour and 1

Greasy - writing can’t be erased so often used for 2

Vellum

Calf skin: most popular for prestigious work because you can get 3  lettering.

Preparation of hides

•        Treated in barrels of lime - where this was not available, skins were 4  (removed hair -> more flexible)
•        Stretched tight on a frame
•        Scraped to create same 5
•        Vellum was 6

Genetic testing - finding origins

Previously - analysed handwriting and 7  used by the writer

Now - using genetic data from ‘known manuscripts’ to create a 8

Uses of new data

Gives information on individual books

Shows the 9  of the book industry

Helps define 10  in medieval period