The Parchment of High Medieval Italian Codices: A Survey of the Animal Species Used

Abstract When examining parchment, it can be difficult to determine the animal species from which a skin was obtained. In order to develop a reliable and non-invasive method of identification, Anna Di Majo, Carlo Federici, and Marco Palma studied hair follicles in parchment from medieval Italian manuscripts. Using microscopes and transmitted light from heat-free optical fibers, they analyzed the entire follicular structure of each sheet. They compared their findings with contemporary parchment of known origin. Follicular arrangement along with other dermal structures, species-specific features, and hair-root depth revealed an overwhelming prevalence of goatskin among the sheets the team examined. This non-invasive technique can be useful in determining the provenance of parchment artifacts and for gaining a better understanding of the materials chosen for inscription and illumination.