Journal article
Using computed tomography to recover hidden medieval fragments beneath early modern leather bindings, first results
Heritage Science, Vol.11, 82
04/24/2023
DOI: 10.1186/s40494-023-00912-9
PMCID: PMC10123051
PMID: 37113562
Abstract
Medieval bindings fragments have become increasingly interesting to Humanities researchers as sources for the textual and material history of medieval Europeans. Later book binders used these discarded and repurposed pieces of earlier medieval manuscripts to reinforce the structures of other manuscripts and printed books. That many of these fragments are contained within and obscured by decorative bindings that cannot be dismantled ethically has limited their discovery and description. Although previous attempts to recover these texts using IRT and MA-XRF scanning have been successful, the extensive time required to scan a single book, and the need to modify or create specialized IRT or MA-XRF equipment for this method are drawbacks. Our research proposes and tests the capabilities of medical CT scanning technologies (commonly available at research university medical schools) for making visible and legible these fragments hidden under leather bindings. Our research team identified three sixteenth-century printed codices in our university libraries that were evidently bound in tawed leather by one workshop. The damaged cover of one of these three had revealed medieval manuscript fragments on the book spine; this codex served as a control for testing the other two volumes to see if they, too, contain fragments. The use of a medical CT scanner proved successful in visualizing interior book-spine structures and some letterforms, but not all of the text was made visible. The partial success of CT-scanning points to the value of further experimentation, given the relatively wide availability of medical imaging technologies, with their potential for short, non-destructive, 3D imaging times.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Using computed tomography to recover hidden medieval fragments beneath early modern leather bindings, first results
- Creators
- J Eric Ensley - University of Iowa, Special Collections and University ArchivesKatherine H Tachau - University of Iowa, HistorySusan A Walsh - University of Iowa, RadiologyHonghai Zhang - University of Iowa, The Iowa Institute for Biomedical ImagingGiselle Simón - University of Iowa, Conservation and Collections CareLaura MoserJarron Atha - University of IowaPaul Dilley - University of Iowa, ClassicsEric A Hoffman - University of Iowa, RadiologyMilan Sonka - University of Iowa, Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Heritage Science, Vol.11, 82
- DOI
- 10.1186/s40494-023-00912-9
- PMID
- 37113562
- PMCID
- PMC10123051
- NLM abbreviation
- Herit Sci
- ISSN
- 2050-7445
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100011641, name: Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development, University of Iowa; DOI: 10.13039/100000002, name: National Institutes of Health, award: R01-EB004640, S10-OD018526, S10-OD018526, R01-EB004640
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/24/2023
- Academic Unit
- Electrical and Computer Engineering; English; Injury Prevention Research Center; Interdisciplinary Studies Program; Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Radiology; Classics; History; Special Collections and University Archives; Religious Studies; Radiation Oncology; The Iowa Institute for Biomedical Imaging; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center; Conservation and Collections Care; University College Courses; Internal Medicine; Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984397754902771
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