In 2019, scholars at the University of Cambridge Library discovered a very rare 750-year-old text about the legend of King Arthur, hidden in front of them. The fragile manuscript fragments were reused in the restraints of 16th century property records, making it almost impossible to dismantle the covers of the records and study medieval texts without certainly being damaged. It’s almost impossible, but not perfect.
Academic interdisciplinary teams at Cambridge University were able to use a variety of advanced imaging techniques to create virtual copies of the bindings and digitally deploy rare texts without damaging them or damaging property records. This groundbreaking approach preserves artifacts as an example of 16th century archival binding practices. This “is part of history in itself,” said Irène Fabry-Tehranchi, a French expert at the Cambridge University Library’s Collections and Academic Liaison Office, who was involved in the project. statement.
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In addition to common tools such as mirrors, magnets, and prisms, Fabry Talentien and her colleagues have used cutting-edge imaging techniques to photograph every aspect of the folded fragment, making text more readable, and create highly detailed 3D models, creating highly detailed 3D models without understanding the structure of the binding. Hundreds of images were then stitched together like a puzzle to create a digital version of the cover. Researchers can now develop and study It’s as if they had the real thing.
“If this had been done 30 years ago, the fragments could have been cut, unfolded and flattened. But today, preserving them gives us important insight into 16th century archival practices and gives us access to the medieval story itself,” Fabry Tehrent said. “It was initially thought to be a 14th century story about Ir Gawain, but further investigation revealed that it was part of a sequel to the old French Urgatemalin.
Medieval legend King ArthurQueen Ginnever, Knight Sir Lancelot, Merlin the Magician, The Holy Grail, has been written, copied, read, performed, studied and produced in countless versions over the centuries. Vulgate CycleIt is also called Lancelot – Grail Cycleone such version of the old French.
Written in the first half of the 13th century, it speaks of the legend of Arthur in a monumental five-part epic. The fragments found at the University of Cambridge Library Suite Vulgate du MerlinPart of Vulgate Cycle It tells the story of what happens after King Arthur’s Corner Crown. One sentence from the fragment tells the Christian victory over the Saxons at the Battle of Kambenic, involving the Sword of Excalibur, Knight Govin (also Gawain). Another thing speaks when Merlin appears in King Arthur’s court at the hypothetical east feast of the Virgin Mary. This is the English translation:
They were pleased at the East Feast, and Kay the Seneshal brought King Arthur and Queen Guynever the first dishes, but the most handsome man ever seen on the Christian land arrived. He wore a silk tunic covered in silk harness woven with gold and precious stones, which glowed with brightness that illuminated the entire room.
The remaining copies are less than 40 Suite Vulgate du Merlin Texts known to scholars, and medieval scribes copied them by hand, so each one is a unique version. For example, those found at the University of Cambridge Library have decorative red and blue initials. Based on this and other features, the researchers propose that the text was written between 1275 and 1315.
However, “This project was more than just unlocking one text, it was to develop a methodology that could be used for other manuscripts,” concluded Fabry-Tehranchi. “Libraries and archives around the world face similar challenges to fragile fragments embedded in bindings, and our approach provides a model of non-invasive access and research.”
One person’s garbage (or book binding) may even be another person’s treasure, even 750 years from now.
