This project uses genetics to unlock the secrets of medieval parchment books and their makers.
The Hamburg Bible, AD 1255.
The main goal of this project is to leverage recent developments in genetic techniques to advance the study of medieval parchment books. Parchment represents an unparalleled archeological resource for a wide variety of science and humanities fields because it provides an untapped reservoir of millions of samples from over a thousand-year period containing evidence of book production practices, human-animal interaction, and agricultural history. Recent advances in genetic techniques permit the nondestructive sampling of these cultural heritage artifacts for the first time in history. This proposal offers NCSU an opportunity to be a pioneer in this emerging interdisciplinary field via a team with complementary research interests and proven records of success in relevant disciplines.
How I Think and Do: Medievalist Tim Stinson. Video courtesy of NC State College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The steps of parchment making.
Image of stretched parchment drying.
Medieval parchment maker, Stadtbibliothek Nürnberg, Amb. 317.2°, fol. 35r.
Timothy Stinson taking samples using a PVC eraser at the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
NCSU faculty pioneered a technique of collecting DNA samples from parchment using cytology brushes such as the one depicted.
Diagram showing distribution of species in Duke University Library, MS Latin 103.
Matthew Breen (CVM), Benjamin Callahan (CVM), Kelly Meiklejohn (CVM), Melissa Scheible (CVM), Timothy Stinson (CHASS), and Rachael Thomas (CVM).
This project features a highly interdisciplinary team from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine. Areas of expertise of team members include forensic biology, medieval studies, computational biology, and comparative genetics and genomics.
Above: Logos of College of Humanities and Social Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University.
North Carolina State University, College of Humanities and Social Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine
2020 to present
Genetics, Science and humanities, Manuscript studies, Book history