Rare Merlin and King Arthur manuscript fragment discovered in book binding

Summary

The discovery set off an extensive conservation and research project, supported by the University Library with funding from Cambridge Digital Humanities. The fragment’s condition posed a significant challenge. It was fragile, with tears and folds that made it difficult to handle. Traditional methods of conservation might have involved physically removing the binding to unfold the fragment, but this risked causing irreparable damage. Instead, the team decided to preserve the fragment in situ, keeping it as an example of 16th-century archival binding practices while using cutting-edge technology to virtually unfold and digitise it. “It’s not just about the text itself, but also about the material artefact. The way it was reused tells us about archival practices in 16th-century England. It’s a piece of history in its own right.” Dr. Fabry-Tehranchi explaining the importance of preserving the fragment in its original state A multidisciplinary team comprising curators, conservators, and imaging specialists from across the University of Cambridge, including departments such as Archives and Modern Manuscripts, Conservation & Heritage, and Collections and Academic Liaison, all worked together with CHIL to analyse and digitise the fragment. The methods undertaken by Amélie Deblauwe, Błażej Mikuła and Maciej Pawlikowski from CHIL, with the support of Jennifer Murray from the Library’s Conservation Department, allowed them to unfold the fragment virtually and access hidden parts of the text. To achieve this, the team undertook: Multispectral Imaging (MSI) This technique used in CHIL involved capturing the fragment in various wavelengths of light, from ultraviolet to infrared. The high-resolution images produced by MSI allowed the team to enhance the readability of the text. Images processed using geospatial software revealed details that were invisible to the naked eye. The fragment had been heavily rubbed and worn from its use as a cover, but MSI helped to bring out the text...