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The purpose of this paper is to reclaim and unlock heritage knowledge related to the secular value of time and labor from a sample Ethiopian ancient Ge'ez parchment manuscript. We claim that Ethiopia's ancient Ge'ez parchment manuscripts could be a source of heritage knowledge if systematically studied. We conducted an extensive and intensive survey to identify and select relevant ancient Ge'ez parchment manuscripts from ancient churches and monasteries in Tigray, Ethiopia. We selected one Ge'ez parchment manuscript for content analysis related to secular value time and another Ge'ez parchment manuscript for the secular value of labor and work ethics. Content analysis and interpretation including language translation from Ge'ez to Tigrinya and English was used as a method of heritage knowledge extraction, as were unlocking approaches from the selected sample Ge'ez parchment manuscripts. Digital content was also produced in order to have access to the digital content, which facilitates further content analysis. A critical evaluation of the physical condition of the sample manuscripts including their palaeography, folios, marginalia, and provenance was made in order to establish their relative age and credibility. From our content analysis, we extract and unlock valuable information and heritage knowledge domains related to the secular value of time and labor. The striking aspect in this study is that the sources of such heritage knowledge are the ancient Ge'ez manuscripts preserved for centuries in religious institutions like ancient churches and monasteries. These sources of heritage knowledge could be easily accepted by Christian farmers to address and solve their earthly problems. We, therefore, assert that the analysis of manuscripts democratizes access to knowledge, making historical collections accessible to a broader audience. Therefore, this current research paper extends the scope of previous studies from merely identifying preservation challenges and making ancient manuscripts accessible through digitization to conducting content analysis, unlocking relevant heritage knowledge domains, and disseminating the knowledge as well as preventing the loss of valuable heritage knowledge. Finally, we suggest making a paradigm shift from preserving heritage for its own sake to focusing on heritage knowledge transfer and education. This is mainly because we currently stand at a crossroads, facing a dilemma between valuing and utilizing heritage on one hand and ensuring its sustainable preservation on the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses hitherto unidentified loose folios of a parchment liturgical and musical book held in the Archdiocesan Archive of Gniezno (Poland), containing the offertory and communion antiphons for the feasts De Trinitate and Corpus Christi. The author provides the codicological description of the leaves (analyzing Latin script, musical notation, ornamentation); identifies the time of their creation (15th century); indicates the type of the liturgical book to which they belong (graduale); seeks a melodic model for them and puts forward provenance hypotheses. He states that the melodics of the antiphons, although closest to the Cistercian tradition, are nevertheless variantly different from the melodic line preserved in foreign and Polish codices. It is possible to narrow down the dating of the leaves thanks to the type of Latin script, the calligraphic ornamentation of the initials and the spelling of certain letters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mediterranea - Ricerche Storiche is the property of Mediterranea-Ricerche Storiche and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Parchment, the skins of animals prepared for use as writing surfaces, offers a valuable source of genetic information. Many have clearly defined provenance, allowing for the genetic findings to be evaluated in temporal and spatial context. While these documents can yield evidence of the animal sources, the DNA contained within these aged skins is often damaged and fragmented. Previously, genetic studies targeting parchment have used destructive sampling techniques and so the development and validation of non-destructive sampling methods would expand opportunities and facilitate testing of more precious documents, especially those with historical significance. Here we present genetic data obtained by non-destructive sampling of eight parchments spanning the 15th century to the modern day. We define a workflow for enriching the mitochondrial genome (mtGenome), generating next-generation sequencing reads to permit species identification, and providing interpretation guidance. Using sample replication, comparisons to destructively sampled controls, and by establishing authentication criteria, we were able to confidently assign full/near full mtGenome sequences to 56.3% of non-destructively sampled parchments, each with greater than 90% of the mtGenome reference covered. Six of eight parchments passed all four established thresholds with at least one non-destructive sample, highlighting promise for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hebrew Scroll, catalogued as Magliabekian Manuscript III 43 and belonging to the National Central Library of Florence (BNCF), is a membranous richly decorated scroll, with colorful depictions of sacred sites through the Holy Land to Lebanon along with handwritten texts in Hebrew and notes in Italian. Despite the fact that the manuscript was originally catalogued as an “object of no artistic or scientific value”, recent paleographic studies dated it to the XIV century and highlighted it as the oldest scroll still available, depicting holy places from Egypt to Lebanon. Nevertheless, precise dating, authorship, and the interpretation of its original function are still uncertain. A suite of complementary techniques was used, including photographic documentation in visible (VIS) light in diffuse light, grazing light, and transillumination, luminescence induced by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, imaging spectroscopy (IS), Macro Area X-ray Fluorescence (MA-XRF), and spot analyses such as fiber-optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) in the UV, VIS, and near-infrared (NIR) regions, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) in external reflectance mode (ER), and micro-Raman spectroscopy. The results of the non-invasive diagnostic campaign enabled the identification of several constituting materials (parchment, pigments, binder, and inks). The identified materials were consistent with the proposed dating and geographical manufacturing area of the artefact.

This article, titled "Hand," is a poem written by Reed Richards and published in the summer 2024 issue of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. The poem explores the symbolism and significance of the human hand, describing it as a vessel for communication, trust, and understanding. The author reflects on the intricate nature of the hand and its ability to convey both kindness and pain. The poem concludes with a contemplation on mortality and the potential for transcendence through the hands. The author, Reed Richards, is a poet and fiction writer who has previously published in Dialogue and resides in Murray, Utah. [Extracted from the article]

Psalm 35 is one of the most popular, widely read and used Psalm among the African indigenous churches (Yoruba) in Nigeria. This article investigates why and how Psalm 35 vv. 1-3 is used as a plea for vengeance among the Yoruba Christians in African indigenous churches in Nigeria. The article explores how the plea for vengeance is understood and expressed in the African traditional context. African biblical hermeneutics with the view of providing a useful lens to reread biblical text in African context was adopted for the study. It was discovered that as early as the 3rd-century Christian era, the book of Psalms was used in the liturgy of the church. The notion of vengeance as found in Psalm 35 vv. 1-3 is a recurrent theme in African indigenous churches in Nigeria. This Psalm is used among the Yoruba Christians in African indigenous churches as a plea for divine intervention against their enemies. Through a synthesis of biblical and traditional African sources, this article demonstrates how the plea for vengeance is expressed in the cultural practices and beliefs of African indigenous churches. The plea for vengeance in this Psalm is a reflection of African indigenous churches' understanding of key social issues such as justice, relationships between individuals and groups, and the need to maintain social integrity. Psalm 35 is usually read, sung, memorised, inscribed on parchment, and chanted by African christians and non-christians as expression of faith in God to intervene in the issues confronting them as he did for the Psalmist. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The Yoruba Christian readers of Psalm 35vv. 1-3 appeal to God for intervention against their enemies. The article emphasises that Christians should not take laws into their hands but trust in God for justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gripla is the property of Stofnun Arna Magnussonar i islenskum fraedm and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Hebrew Scroll, catalogued as Magliabekian Manuscript III 43 and belonging to the National Central Library of Florence (BNCF), is a membranous richly decorated scroll, with colorful depictions of sacred sites through the Holy Land to Lebanon along with handwritten texts in Hebrew and notes in Italian. Despite the fact that the manuscript was originally catalogued as an "object of no artistic or scientific value", recent paleographic studies dated it to the XIV century and highlighted it as the oldest scroll still available, depicting holy places from Egypt to Lebanon. Nevertheless, precise dating, authorship, and the interpretation of its original function are still uncertain. A suite of complementary techniques was used, including photographic documentation in visible (VIS) light in diffuse light, grazing light, and transillumination, luminescence induced by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, imaging spectroscopy (IS), Macro Area X-ray Fluorescence (MA-XRF), and spot analyses such as fiber-optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) in the UV, VIS, and near-infrared (NIR) regions, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) in external reflectance mode (ER), and micro-Raman spectroscopy. The results of the non-invasive diagnostic campaign enabled the identification of several constituting materials (parchment, pigments, binder, and inks). The identified materials were consistent with the proposed dating and geographical manufacturing area of the artefact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No Gothic design drawings on paper or parchment have survived from the 12th century, and only a few have survived from the 13th century. For this reason, most recent scholars tend to concur at least broadly with Robert Branner, who argued in an influential 1963 article that such drawings were first produced only after 1200. This conclusion deserves critical re-examination, however, for two principal reasons. First, the continuity of the Gothic architectural tradition in both time and space strongly suggests that early Gothic builders used similar techniques to those used by their late Gothic successors. From this perspective, the lack of surviving design drawings from before 1200 seems likely to reflect their disappearance over time, rather than their not being used in the crucial period when the conventions of Gothic design and construction were first coming into focus. A second argument for the use of drawings in the 12th century comes from consideration of early Gothic buildings, whose complex and carefully calibrated forms would be literally inconceivable without such graphic aids. Churches such as Saint-Denis Abbey and Notre-Dame in Paris, for example, already display a level of geometrical sophistication and coherence that argues strongly for the use of scaled drawings in their original conception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunnel solar dryer is the recently used drying method for better quality and safety of parchment coffee. However, the higher variation of drying temperature and RH along the long tunnel solar dryer results in a heterogeneous environment in the tunnel, which could make parchment coffee dried at different times or with different moisture contents. This study is aimed at investigating the effect of solar tunnel dryer zones at different zones of the dryer, divided into three zones from the inlet to the exit side of the drier and drying layer thicknesses on the drying time, drying kinetics, physicochemical, sensory, and fungal growth loads of parchment coffee. Furthermore, seven mathematical models were evaluated to select the best-fitting model for a specific zone to predict drying time. Results showed that dryer zones significantly (p < 0.05) interacted with layer thickness for most of the measured parameters except titratable acidity and sensory properties. The dryer zone, coupled with the reduction in drying layer thickness, caused an increase in effective diffusivity and moisture removal rate and reduced drying time. The drying time to reach constant moisture content varied from 14 to 17 hours. Overall raw bean, cup, and total quality varied from 36.3 to 37, 48 to 51, and 84.3 to 87.3%, respectively. Values for physicochemical parameters ranged from 5.3 to 6.9 (pH), 2.1 to 2.6% (titratable acidity), 2.3 to 4.3°Brix TSS, 10.9 to 15.2% (ether extract), 39.2 to 53.5GAE/g (total phenolic content), and 38.5 to 59.2 (DPPH scavenging capacity). The fungal infection percentage at the end of drying varied from 4 to 93.3%, which could be associated with potential mycotoxin formation if recommended conditions were not maintained. In general, for better quality, similar drying times, and a lesser fungal load, it is recommended to use 4, 5, and 6 cm layer thickness in zones one, two, and three, respectively. The drying kinetics of parchment coffee in different dryer zones with different drying layer thicknesses showed variation. Zone one at 2 and 4 cm layer thicknesses is best described by the Verma model. Four- and six-centimetre layer thicknesses in zones 2 and 3 are best described by the modified Midilli model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We do not possess, nor are we ever likely to possess, any autograph of a Greek or Latin literary text from antiquity. We do not always apprise our students of this fact. This article seeks to explain why we possess only copies of the texts, often adapted for one reason or another and at many stages removed from the autographs. It also explains why certain kinds of originals cannot by their nature be copied or adapted, and are lost to us as soon as they are created. Non-literary texts too, written on durable materials other than papyri and parchment, do not, for various reasons, always constitute autographs, or autographs that we and our students can have ready access to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the effect of X-ray irradiation as a disinfection treatment in original ancient parchment samples, belonging to a discarded book cover of a 16th-century archival register, has been evaluated. Specifically, the bacterial and fungal species isolated from the book cover have been characterized and then irradiated with increasing doses of X-rays with the aim to evaluate the effectiveness of the antimicrobial protocol on the isolated microorganisms. The deterioration effects induced by the X-ray treatment as well as the natural aging on the collagen matrix of the parchment sample have been tested by employing several techniques, namely, Light Transmission Analysis, Fiber Optic Reflectance Spectroscopy, Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy, UV Resonant Raman spectroscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy. The results reveal that the irradiation treatment applied to our ancient parchment samples deteriorated by biological attack and other naturally occurring phenomena, possibly associated with inappropriate conservation conditions, does not seem to induce further damage factors even when large doses of irradiation are employed. The X-rays-based disinfection treatment effects are limited on the collagen support and this confirms the potential of this method in mass disinfection of library and archival materials.

The Alcobacenses are one of the most important Portuguese collections of Monastic codices. During a campaign study to further advance our knowledge on this important legacy and its state of conservation, a heavily deteriorated codex (ALC.338) stood out due to the presence of purple stains on the lower margins on virtually all folios. In some of them, the purple stains are accompanied by yellow and brown patches as well. Also noticed was the presence of these purple spots on the white tawed leather covering the codex. The codex was analyzed macro and microscopically, chemically and biologically using state-of-the-art technology such as next-generation sequencing. The biological deterioration associated with the appearance of these purple spots arises from the inside out and reveals significant abundance of the bacterial genus Saccharopolyspora sp., which accounted for 86% of the bacterial genera identified. For the fungal population, the most common genus was Malassezia sp. Visual inspection of the sample confirmed the presence of fungal and bacterial biofilms. Pressing questions, comparison to similar studies and future perspectives are also given.

This work explores the potential of analyzing individual objects to improve their preventive conservation. Previously, environmental recommendations have been based on an average or worst response of material groups. Cultural heritage objects are extremely variable and within a group such as archaeological iron a very wide range of responses are shown. Characterizing a single object’s response allows its environment to be tailored to its requirements and can enable significant resource and carbon footprint savings. Three main approaches are considered with a material explored in detail including preventive conservation ramifications. Composition analysis is investigated through the stability of limestones. The critical concentrations of soluble salts causing surface deterioration in one environment has been explored. A more rapid method of analyzing clays in acid insoluble fractions from drillings and undertaking that analysis non-invasively has been developed. Measuring deterioration rates is explored through oxygen consumption analyses of archaeological iron. The distributions of previously published data are explored and the changes in rates examined. A scheme for parchment based on shrinkage temperatures and observations is presented for the first time and its use illustrated with a newly acquired letter. The type of work required to produce these schemes is explored with leather.

Fermented polymers like biobased poly(butylene succinate) (BioPBS) have become more relevant as technical substitutes for ductile petrochemical-based polymers but require biogenic functional additives to deaccelerate undesired thermo-oxidative degradation and keep a fully biobased character. In this paper, the influence of coffee parchment (PMT) from two different varieties and processings on the thermo-oxidative stabilization and mechanical properties of poly(butylene succinate) composites up to 20 wt.-% PMT were investigated. Micronized with a TurboRotor mill, both PMT powders differ in particle size and shape, moisture ab- and adsorption behavior and antioxidative properties. It could be shown that pulped-natural PMT consists partially of coffee cherry residues, which leads to a higher total polyphenol content and water activity. The homogeneous PMT from fully washed processing has a higher thermal degradation resistance but consists of fibers with larger diameters. Compounded with the BioPBS and subsequent injection molded, the fully washed PMT leads to higher stiffness and equal tensile strength but lower toughness compared to the pulped-natural PMT, especially at lower deformation speed. Surprisingly, the fully washed PMT showed a higher stability against thermo-oxidative decomposition despite the lower values in the total phenol content and antioxidative activity. The required antioxidative stabilizers might be extracted at higher temperatures from the PMT fibers, making it a suitable biogenic stabilizer for extrusion processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the moment of production, artworks are constantly exposed to changing environmental factors potentially inducing degradation. Therefore, detailed knowledge of natural degradation phenomena is essential for proper damage assessment and preservation. With special focus on written cultural heritage, we present a study on the degradation of sheep parchment employing accelerated aging with light (295–3000 nm) for one month, 30/50/80% relative humidity (RH) and 50 ppm sulfur dioxide with 30/50/80%RH for one week. UV/VIS spectroscopy detected changes in the sample surface appearance, showing browning after light-aging and increased brightness after SO2-aging. Band deconvolution of ATR/FTIR and Raman spectra and factor analysis of mixed data (FAMD) revealed characteristic changes of the main parchment components. Spectral features for degradation-induced structural changes of collagen and lipids turned out to be different for the employed aging parameters. All aging conditions induced denaturation (of different degrees) indicated by changes in the secondary structure of collagen. Light treatment resulted in the most pronounced changes for collagen fibrils in addition to backbone cleavage and side chain oxidations. Additional increased disorder for lipids was observed. Despite shorter exposure times, SO2-aging led to a weakening of protein structures induced by transitions of stabilizing disulfide bonds and side chain oxidations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Collodion Baby: Answers Beneath the Parchment" explores the condition known as collodion baby, which is characterized by a shiny yellow membrane covering the newborn at birth. This membrane eventually sheds, revealing an underlying form of inherited ichthyosis. The severity of the subsequent ichthyosis cannot be predicted initially, and it can lead to various complications such as impaired skin barrier function, bacterial sepsis, and respiratory issues. The article discusses the diagnosis, management, and treatment of collodion baby, emphasizing the importance of maintaining body temperature, preventing dehydration, and monitoring vital signs and blood counts. It also provides information on specific genetic causes and clinical findings that can aid in diagnosing collodion babies. Milder cases and later stages can be managed on an outpatient basis as long as temperature, hydration, and asepsis are maintained. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract Ion beam analysis (IBA) is an established method to determine the concentration and the distribution of elements in art and archaeological objects. However, especially for organic specimens, caution must be taken to avoid harmful effects. In this work, the possible modification of recent calf parchment samples by proton beam irradiation was investigated applying fluences (given as deposited charge per unit area) both within and beyond the usual analytical practice. Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) were employed to assess changes, inspected from the surface of the samples. Although both techniques are apt to detect alterations of parchment in general, in the case of particles, which deposit the majority of their energy below the surface these techniques could not detect changes at low fluences. However, a simple “bath test” (short immersion in liquid) proved that disintegration within the material had already happened. After the “bath test”, OCT and digital 3D microscopy were used to check the discontinuities in the material, especially for low fluences when the visual inspection might have missed them. Unfortunately, simply monitoring organic objects such as parchment during or after ion beam irradiation, non-destructively, is not sufficient to claim absolute harmlessness, as some studies in the past did. In line with our former findings using electron microscopy on cross sections, we found that 2.3 MeV protons with a deposited charge of 0.5 µC/cm2 caused no changes affecting the integrity of parchment but 2 µC/cm2 apparently did under the applied experimental conditions. To ensure the required analytical signal at a relatively low deposited charge, the detection system must be optimized for efficiency. Nevertheless, since the variability of the historic materials and the measurement set-ups are considerable, these values cannot be taken as absolutes, but only as guides, both for further IBA studies and for studies conducted in the past.

The information on the advances and technology of some recent conservation methods (2020–2023) of organic and inorganic archaeological objects against microbial deterioration is recorded. An outline of comparative new protective methods for conserving plant-origin organic artefacts {Fibers (manuscripts, textile) and wood}, animal-origin organic artefacts (painting, parchment and mummies) and inorganic stone artefacts were investigated. The work not only contributes to the development of safe revolutionary ways for more efficient safe conservation of items of historical and cultural worth but also serves as a significant diagnostic signature for detecting the sorts of microbial identification and incidents in antiques. Biological technologies (environmentally friendly green biocides) are the most used recent, efficient and safe strategy acceptable as alternatives to stop microbial deterioration and prevent any potential interactions between the biological agent and the artefacts. Also, a synergistic effect of combining natural biocides with mechanical cleaning or chemical treatments was suggested. The recommended exploration techniques should be considered for future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exhibition "The Ladies of Art", held at the Palazzo Reale in Milan in 2021, focused on the history of women artists during the 16th and 17th centuries. As part of the exhibition, a series of diagnostic analyses have been carried out on two paintings, thanks to the collaboration of several research institutions. The considered artworks consist of two paintings on parchments, realized by Giovanna Garzoni at the Savoy Court in the 17th century. Diagnostic analyses were performed using different, complementary, and non-invasive techniques: high-resolution multiband imaging, hyperspectral imaging, optical microscopy, X-ray fluorescence, and FORS spectrometry, combined with advanced post-processing techniques, in order to map and distinguish the pigments and the underdrawing of both the paintings. This research is the first conducted on these paintings and one of the few on the entire works of this important miniaturist. The results showed an incredibly meticulous painting technique, with a detailed metal point underdrawing and painstaking brushstrokes to describe the details with a high degree of realism. Precious materials, such as gold and lapislazuli, were identified and mapped. The findings of this work represent a new contribution of knowledge, which helps to lessen the lack of information for systematic studies on the artistic production of G. Garzoni. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The historical artefacts of parchment are prone to degradation if the storage conditions are improper due to the collagen structure having a limited stability under physical, chemical, and biological agent attacks. The parchment structure is difficult to characterize due to the variety of manufacturing traditions (eastern/western), intrinsic variability of skins (i.e., species, breeding variation, living conditions, effects of pathologies, etc.), biodeterioration, and aging, and the main concern in its analysis is its uniformity. The deterioration of parchment collagen produces a rather stiff or in some circumstances, a relaxed structure. Any intervention or treatment of unique, very precious cultural heritage artefacts must not negatively influence the properties of the component materials. Gamma irradiation is a relatively new technique of bioremediation. Data on the leather properties pre- and post-ionizing radiation bioremediation treatments are few in the literature. Fewer data are available on the historical leather and parchment physical chemical characteristics after ionizing gamma irradiation. This research had two main objectives: (i) the characterization of the parchment structure's uniformity across the analyzed areas and its mechanical properties, i.e., tensile stress by mechanical tests and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy; and (ii) to establish parchment tolerance when exposed to ionizing gamma radiation as a pre-requisite for cultural heritage preservation irradiation treatment. It was found that the mechanical tests and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy may identify changes in the parchment's irradiated structure and that the preservation of cultural heritage parchment artefacts may be performed at maximum 15 kGy gamma irradiation dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the effect of X-ray irradiation as a disinfection treatment in original ancient parchment samples, belonging to a discarded book cover of a 16th-century archival register, has been evaluated. Specifically, the bacterial and fungal species isolated from the book cover have been characterized and then irradiated with increasing doses of X-rays with the aim to evaluate the effectiveness of the antimicrobial protocol on the isolated microorganisms. The deterioration effects induced by the X-ray treatment as well as the natural aging on the collagen matrix of the parchment sample have been tested by employing several techniques, namely, Light Transmission Analysis, Fiber Optic Reflectance Spectroscopy, Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy, UV Resonant Raman spectroscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy. The results reveal that the irradiation treatment applied to our ancient parchment samples deteriorated by biological attack and other naturally occurring phenomena, possibly associated with inappropriate conservation conditions, does not seem to induce further damage factors even when large doses of irradiation are employed. The X-rays-based disinfection treatment effects are limited on the collagen support and this confirms the potential of this method in mass disinfection of library and archival materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between the sixteenth and nineteenth century, British agriculture underwent a 'revolutionary' transformation. Yet despite over a century of research and the recognised centrality of agricultural developments to industrialisation and population growth, the character or chronology of any 'revolution' during this period remains contentious. Enquiry has been hampered by the fragmented and locally specific nature of historic accounts and the broad dating of early-modern zooarchaeological assemblages. To address this, we conducted stable isotope analysis on 658 legal documents written on sheepskin parchment; a unique biological resource that records the day, month and year of use (AD 1499 to 1969). We find these provide a high temporal resolution analysis of changing agricultural practices and episodes of disease. Most significantly, they suggest that if an 'Agricultural Revolution' occurred in livestock management, it did so from the mid-nineteenth century, in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study catalogs and categorizes the scribal corrections found in the earliest fragmentary Greek New Testament manuscripts (second-fourth/fifth centuries). Although corrections are normally identified and discussed by manuscript editors, this analysis gathers such evidence from a wide range of artifacts in order to observe relevant trends in scribal habits across the group as a whole. Corrections are identified in the earliest 114 fragmentary manuscripts of the New Testament, including papyri and parchment. These corrections are then categorized and discussed, with attention given to the copying process, text-critical evidence, and the identity of the correctors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Estudos Ibero-Americanos is the property of EDIPUCRS - Editora Universitaria da PUCRS and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This work explores the potential of analyzing individual objects to improve their preventive conservation. Previously, environmental recommendations have been based on an average or worst response of material groups. Cultural heritage objects are extremely variable and within a group such as archaeological iron a very wide range of responses are shown. Characterizing a single object's response allows its environment to be tailored to its requirements and can enable significant resource and carbon footprint savings. Three main approaches are considered with a material explored in detail including preventive conservation ramifications. Composition analysis is investigated through the stability of limestones. The critical concentrations of soluble salts causing surface deterioration in one environment has been explored. A more rapid method of analyzing clays in acid insoluble fractions from drillings and undertaking that analysis non-invasively has been developed. Measuring deterioration rates is explored through oxygen consumption analyses of archaeological iron. The distributions of previously published data are explored and the changes in rates examined. A scheme for parchment based on shrinkage temperatures and observations is presented for the first time and its use illustrated with a newly acquired letter. The type of work required to produce these schemes is explored with leather. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Alcobacenses are one of the most important Portuguese collections of Monastic codices. During a campaign study to further advance our knowledge on this important legacy and its state of conservation, a heavily deteriorated codex (ALC.338) stood out due to the presence of purple stains on the lower margins on virtually all folios. In some of them, the purple stains are accompanied by yellow and brown patches as well. Also noticed was the presence of these purple spots on the white tawed leather covering the codex. The codex was analyzed macro and microscopically, chemically and biologically using state-of-the-art technology such as next-generation sequencing. The biological deterioration associated with the appearance of these purple spots arises from the inside out and reveals significant abundance of the bacterial genus Saccharopolyspora sp., which accounted for 86% of the bacterial genera identified. For the fungal population, the most common genus was Malassezia sp. Visual inspection of the sample confirmed the presence of fungal and bacterial biofilms. Pressing questions, comparison to similar studies and future perspectives are also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The high hygroscopicity and heterogeneity of parchment make it particularly sensitive to changes in environmental conditions. The proper housing of a historical parchment, including mounting should mitigate the impact of the changes on the object. However, finding an appropriate mounting method requires detailed knowledge of the mechanical response of a parchment on the combined influence from environmental changes and forces introduced by the mounting. In this paper we present the capabilities of 3D digital image correlation (3D DIC) method implemented for full-field, spatio-temporal monitoring of displacements and strains in parchment exposed to environmental changes. We combine the measurement concept with the particular, critical task of evaluating the effectiveness of stabilising a single sheet of parchment mounted using elastic polyester strips. 3D DIC is implemented to record in non-invasive and non-contact way the full-field response of parchment mock-ups to fluctuations of the relative humidity (RH) without interfering with the climatic chamber processes. We measure and compare the impact of fluctuating RH on unmounted and mounted parchment samples, through the full-field 3D measurements of dimensional changes at selected humidity levels, and through the local and global analysis of the samples’ response (displacement/strains) in time. We had proven in quantitative and detailed way that the applied mount fully fulfils its task, namely reduce significantly the out-of-plane displacements and strains occurring in the parchment during RH changes in the range from 39 to 80%. Our study also demonstrates the possibilities of using 3D DIC for the efficient support of conservation scientists in the development of storage, mounting, and treatment protocols for historical parchment.

This article reviews the complementary strategies that are used to decipher the valuable information that is contained in ancient parchment documentary materials. A new trend is molecular analysis, which has given rise to the emerging field of biocodicology, comprising protein and DNA analysis for the identification of the biological origin of the skins that are used for their manufacture. In addition, DNA analysis can identify the microbiome that is present in the object under investigation, which adds value by providing information on its history and state of preservation. In any case, it is important to complement the biomolecular investigations with microscopical and physicochemical analyses. Some of the complementary analytical techniques that are reviewed here, such as elemental analysis by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) with compound-specific analytical methods such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy are advantageous as they can be applied in a non-invasive way and without inducing any changes in the objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion beam analysis (IBA) is an established method to determine the concentration and the distribution of elements in art and archaeological objects. However, especially for organic specimens, caution must be taken to avoid harmful effects. In this work, the possible modification of recent calf parchment samples by proton beam irradiation was investigated applying fluences (given as deposited charge per unit area) both within and beyond the usual analytical practice. Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) were employed to assess changes, inspected from the surface of the samples. Although both techniques are apt to detect alterations of parchment in general, in the case of particles, which deposit the majority of their energy below the surface these techniques could not detect changes at low fluences. However, a simple "bath test" (short immersion in liquid) proved that disintegration within the material had already happened. After the "bath test", OCT and digital 3D microscopy were used to check the discontinuities in the material, especially for low fluences when the visual inspection might have missed them. Unfortunately, simply monitoring organic objects such as parchment during or after ion beam irradiation, non-destructively, is not sufficient to claim absolute harmlessness, as some studies in the past did. In line with our former findings using electron microscopy on cross sections, we found that 2.3 MeV protons with a deposited charge of 0.5 µC/cm2 caused no changes affecting the integrity of parchment but 2 µC/cm2 apparently did under the applied experimental conditions. To ensure the required analytical signal at a relatively low deposited charge, the detection system must be optimized for efficiency. Nevertheless, since the variability of the historic materials and the measurement set-ups are considerable, these values cannot be taken as absolutes, but only as guides, both for further IBA studies and for studies conducted in the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycaprolactone (PCL) bionanocomposites reinforced with microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), either plain or modified with 2 wt% of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, were first time developed for possible application as multifunctional packing. The MFC was obtained by an alkali treatment, a steam explosion process, and ZnO modification applied to parchment (PAR), a husk waste from the coffee industry. X-ray diffraction (XDR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), tensile tests, and CO2 permeability characterized the MFCs and the bionanocomposites. As for the MCFs, the crystallinity index of 50.6% measured by XRD for the plain PAR fiber increases with the combined alkaline treatment and steam explosion (CFA/EXP) to 68.2%, and further with ZnO modification (ZnO-CFA/EXP) to 80.1%. TGA/DTG displays a rising onset of thermal degradation from 214 to 306 °C, as well as maximum degradation rate from 330 to 350 °C, for PAR and ZnO-CFA/EXP, respectively. Regarding the nanocomposites, the addition of 3 wt% of alkali/steam explosion and ZnO-modified CFA/EXP contributes to enhancing thermal stability. Tensile tests disclosed improved mechanical properties of the novel nanocomposites as compared to the PCL matrix. In particular, Young's modulus rose from 88.5 to 169.5 MPa for the plain PCL and PCL reinforced with 3(ZnO-CFA/EXP), respectively. SEM images evidenced the participation of cellulose micro and nanofibrils in the PCL matrix. Approximately 20% reduction in the CO2 permeability coefficient of both PCL and its 3CFA/EXP nanocomposite compared with 3(ZnO-CFA/EXP) proved that the ZnO nanoparticles provide a gas barrier to the nanocomposite, a convenient property for food packing.

Engagement with Christian manuscripts – Eastern and Western – and with ancient and rare printed books makes evident a growing interest in material and codicological aspects of our book heritage. In other words, it evinces an emerging curiosity about the non-textual realities of books – at least of ancient books. This shift is particularly true for manuscript studies. The question of materiality remains unavoidable, however, even today, when we decide to edit a book in hard copy along with electronic or digital versions. As has always been the case, there is a direct correlation between the quality of materials used, the production/confection techniques and the external appearance of a book. Normally, one would not expect to find the finest inks, paper or parchment in the hands of less-skilled scribes or illuminators. This article sets alongside immediate material aspects corresponding, and usually expensive, issues like sewing and binding techniques, layout (mise-en-page) and decoration. They too condition our assessment – even unconsciously – when we meet religious books.

Abstract Historic legal deeds are one of the most abundant resources in British archives, but also one of the most neglected. Despite the millions that survive, we know remarkably little about their manufacture, including the species of animal on which they were written. Here we present the species identification of 645 sixteenth–twentieth century skins via peptide mass fingerprinting (ZooMS), demonstrating the preferential use of sheepskin parchment. We argue that alongside their abundance and low cost, the use of sheepskins over those of other species was motivated by the increased visibility of fraudulent text erasure and modification afforded by the unique structure of their skin.

Parchment is one of the most abundant resources in archives across the world and is a unique time-sensitive material through which centuries of livestock economies, trade and craft can be explored. We examine the impact of structural and chemical modifications during production to δ13C and δ15N values in the skin, particularly the removal of cutaneous keratins and lipids and the conversion of amide functional groups into carboxyl groups via alkaline hydrolysis. Through the manufacture of 51 parchment skins (sheep, goat, calf and pig) using both historic and modern manufacturing techniques, we found production resulted in a small enrichment in 13C (average +0.12‰) and 15N (+0.26‰). Our results pave the way for the isotopic analysis of parchment in paleodietary and paleoenvironmental studies for the historic period and establish the acceptable C:N ratios in deamidated collagenous tissues.

The article aims to establish a brief history of the transmission of Greco-Roman texts, addressing the materials that supported their writing. The most common artifacts used will be verified, such as ceramics, papyrus, and parchment rolls, the making of the codex, the innovation of paper, the revolution of Gutenberg's printing press and the dissemination of books, and, finally, the electronic text stored in more recent computational artifacts. Thus, it is proposed to describe the changes in text reproduction and the insertion of digital technologies in classical studies, resulting in digital editions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The parchment is an unparalleled writing medium, to which humanity is dependent on most of the written testimonies of our history and culture. Parchment is much more resistant to breakage and water action compared to papyrus, which was the quintessentially used writing material for the entire Greek and Latin world and the Near and Middle East since the third century AD. Parchment reached its peak during the Middle Ages, but then set slowly due to the advent of printing and the introduction in Europe of papermaking technology, a much more economical and suitable material for printing, but also much less durable. However, the use of parchment has not completely disappeared, it continues to be used for restoration, for diplomas and government documents (laws are still transcribed on parchment in the UK). The centers where parchment is still manufactured in Europe are only a few, and within the Bucharest Leather and Footwear Research Institute Division is the only place in Eastern Europe where this craft has been revived. In addition to the use of this material in the restoration activity, parchment is a necessity to make products with innovative design, strategic development of production to meet consumer preferences at affordable prices.

Abstract We report a simple histological study on skin biopsies from young domestic sheep following each step in transformation from skin to parchment production. During the recreation of historical parchment manufacture, histological analyses were conducted; before and after lime treatment, hair removal, and stretching. Sections were fixed and stained using a variety of histological stains to identify the presence of different molecular classes and the fibrous proteins, collagen and elastin. The results reveal surprisingly few histological changes in most steps in the production process. However, very visible changes in the supramolecular ordering of skin macromolecules (elastin, collagen) occur during the final stage of parchment production when stretched on the frame. Collagen fibres and hair follicles were all strongly re-oriented in the direction of strain. Surprisingly despite the thinness of the lambskin and the exhaustive treatment in lime, not all fats were saponified and even in the final product Oil Red O stained fat bodies were detectable on the hair side of the skin. We believe this study will help compensate for the lack of sources on microscopic changes in parchment during the recreation of its historical manufacture.

Most by-product wastes of the coffee industry are underutilized, including a fibrous husk that covers the coffee seeds, known as parchment. The present work aims to characterize the parchment fiber and to study the influence of alkaline treatment followed by a steam explosion process assisted by mechanical high shearing to obtain microfibrillated cellulose. The first step of this study was to quantify, using a three-steps methodology, the lignocellulosic constituents present in the parchment. Cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin were identified by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). From these results it was quantified around 22% of cellulose in the parchment. In sequence, alkaline treatment and steam explosion were performed to raise the cellulose content. The novelty of this work was to perform the steam explosion under relatively milder conditions, in order to produce microfibrillated cellulose with a high aspect ratio. It was observed by TGA an improvement in thermal stability and by X-ray diffraction (XRD) an increasing in the crystallinity. Finally, from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) it was verified that cellulose fibrils became more exposed, with diameters reaching micro and nanometric sizes. This ensures a potential for composite reinforcement with microfibrillated cellulose.

The dataset contains the first-ever comprehensive biocodicological analysis of medieval library books and charters using Zooarchaeological Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS). Here, we analyze 68 codices and 59 charters (1490+59 samples in total) from one single monastic institution, namely the Cistercian abbey of Orval in present-day Belgium. The data entails both peptide mass fingerprinting (using MALDI-ToF) and peptide sequencing (using LC-MS/MS) analysis of almost the entire library and all the preserved single leaf charters from the monastery. MALDI-ToF data is stored in Zenodo – a multidisciplinary open access repository while the LC-MS/MS data is deposited in ProteomeXchange Consortium via PRIDE – a publicly available repository for MS-based proteomics data. Mass spectrometric data generated from an entire monastic library and archive is of immense value to integrate with multiple case studies aiming at understanding parchment production and use in medieval Europe. Paper linked with data: Ruffini-Ronzani, N., Nieus, J.F., Soncin, S., Hickinbotham, S., Dieu, M., Bouhy, J., Charles, C., Ruzzier, C., Falmagne, T., Hermand, X., Collins, M.J. and Deparis, O 2021. A biocodicological analysis of the medieval library and archive from Orval Abbey, Belgium. 'Royal Society Open Science, 8'(6), p.210210.

The high hygroscopicity and heterogeneity of parchment make it particularly sensitive to changes in environmental conditions. The proper housing of a historical parchment, including mounting should mitigate the impact of the changes on the object. However, finding an appropriate mounting method requires detailed knowledge of the mechanical response of a parchment on the combined influence from environmental changes and forces introduced by the mounting. In this paper we present the capabilities of 3D digital image correlation (3D DIC) method implemented for full-field, spatio-temporal monitoring of displacements and strains in parchment exposed to environmental changes. We combine the measurement concept with the particular, critical task of evaluating the effectiveness of stabilising a single sheet of parchment mounted using elastic polyester strips. 3D DIC is implemented to record in non-invasive and non-contact way the full-field response of parchment mock-ups to fluctuations of the relative humidity (RH) without interfering with the climatic chamber processes. We measure and compare the impact of fluctuating RH on unmounted and mounted parchment samples, through the full-field 3D measurements of dimensional changes at selected humidity levels, and through the local and global analysis of the samples' response (displacement/strains) in time. We had proven in quantitative and detailed way that the applied mount fully fulfils its task, namely reduce significantly the out-of-plane displacements and strains occurring in the parchment during RH changes in the range from 39 to 80%. Our study also demonstrates the possibilities of using 3D DIC for the efficient support of conservation scientists in the development of storage, mounting, and treatment protocols for historical parchment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion beam analysis plays an important role in cultural heritage (CH) studies as it offers a combination of simultaneous and complementary analytical techniques (PIXE/PIGE/RBS) and spatially resolved mapping functions. Despite being considered non-destructive, the potential risk of beam-induced modifications during analysis is increasingly discussed. This work focuses on the impact of proton beams on parchment, present in our CH in form of unique historical manuscripts. Parchment is one of the organic, protein-based CH materials believed to be the most susceptible to radiation-induced changes. Various modification patterns, observed on parchment cross-sections by optical and electron microscopy are reported: discoloration (yellowing), formation of cavities and denaturation of collagen fibers. Considerable modifications were detected up to 100 µm deep into the sample for beam fluences of 4 µC/cm2 and higher. The presence of ultramarine paint on the parchment surface appears to increase the harmful effects of proton radiation. Based on our results, a maximum radiation dose of 0.5 µC/cm2 can be considered as 'safe boundary' for 2.3 MeV PIXE analysis of parchment under the applied conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cajamarca is one of the main coffee producers that covered a harvested area of 64,908 hectares in 2019. The partners and / or producers of the Cooperativa Agraria Cafetalera La Prosperidad are practically based on the production of dry parchment coffee, which performs an important role in their economy. In addition, coffee crops have ecological and cultural influence. The ecological footprint is a sustainability indicator that tries to measure the impact that our life has on the environment and the complementary index to the ecological footprint is biocapacity. The carbon footprint was calculated using the Zero CO2 program that resulted in 0.060 kg CO2eq/hab. The estimate of the ecological footprint and biocapacity in 2021 was 0.0678 hag / hab and 0.0862 hag/hab respectively and its ecological deficit of 0.0184 hag/hab. The deficit result was positive, which indicates that the use of land is on the path of environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]