"La industria del libro manuscrito en Castilla: fabricantes y vendedores de pergamino (ss.XII-XV)" por Rodríguez Díaz (2001)

Rodríguez Díaz, E. E.; “La industria del libro manuscrito en Castilla: fabricantes y vendedores de pergamino (ss.XII-XV)”, Historia, instituciones, documentos 28 (2001) 313-351

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Resumen:

El estudio de los artesanos del libro es uno de los aspectos del estudio del comercerio librario medieval. En este artículo analizamos el trabajo de los fabricantes y vendedores de pergamineros en Castilla entre los siglos XII y XV cuando fueron un grupo profesional identificable de artesanos laicos, tanto cristianos como judíos. Estudiamos también su perfil según los textos, su función en la producción del libro medieval, la organización del trabajo o su papel en las ciudades castellanas. Por otra parte, no se ha realizado ningún estudio sistemático dolos pergaminos medievales españoles, pero la nueva codicología comparada puede ser un buen camino para entender mejor algunos rasgos específicos de los viejos pergaminos, así como otros elementos codigológicos. Pon ejemplo, ¿por qué tanto en la Biblia visigoda de Danila como en un Corán Fatimí, elaborados ambos en la Alta Edad Media, se empleó una técnica especial de tintado azul del pergamino?

"Effects of temperature and relative humidity on fibrillar collagen in parchment: a micro differential scanning calorimetry (micro DSC) study" by Badea et al (2012)

Badea, E.; Della Gatta, G.; Usacheva, T.; “Effects of temperature and relative humidity on fibrillar collagen in parchment: a micro differential scanning calorimetry (micro DSC) study”; Polymer Degradation and Stability 97(3) (2012) 346-353

doi: 10.1016/polymerdegradstab.2011.12.013 (restricted access)

Abstract:

Micro DSC measurements were used to investigate the synergistic effects of temperature and relative humidity on deterioration of parchment. Samples were obtained by exposing new parchments to various temperature and relative humidity atmospheres for increasing times in controlled test chambers. The impact of this accelerated ageing was assessed by measuring the thermodynamic parameters associated with the thermal denaturation of fibrillar collagen: variation of denaturation temperature, Tmax, indicated changes in collagen thermal stability, increases of DSC peak half-width, ΔT1/2, revealed greater thermal heterogeneity and structural disorder, whereas parallel decrease of denaturation enthalpy, ΔH, and DSC peak maximum height, max, measured the loss of fibrillar structure. Deconvolution of DSC denaturation peaks provided a valuable illustration of both the dynamics and the pattern of the deterioration of fibrillar collagen. Impact of temperature and relative humidity on parchment integrity and stability is discussed in terms of their implications for conservation science.

"Lubricants on vegetable tanned leather: effects and chemical changes" by Blaschke (2012)

Blaschke, Kristina; “Lubricants on vegetable tanned leather: effects and chemical changes”, Restaurator 33 (1) (2012) 76–99

DOI: 10.1515/res-2012-0004 (restricted access)

Abstract:

This paper addresses three questions concerning lubricants on vegetable-tanned leather. The first question is how do lubricants change leather; secondly, how deep does a lubricant absorb into leather if only applied on the grain; and further, which leather care product is most chemically stable? Four expert-recommended leather care products were chosen for testing: leather cream recommended by Larsen in 2007, the Dutch emulsion recommended by the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague, a modified leather dressing suggested by Fuchs in 2005 and Cire 213 recommended by the National Library of France. The equipment for investigation of the samples included colourimetric measurement and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The SEM results indicated alteration in the morphology of leather. Cross sections of the leather samples were prepared and dyed to determine the absorption-behaviour of fats into bulk leather. The effect of mechanical treatment after lubrication was examined as well. In addition, the lubricated leather samples were subjected to artificial ageing, after which components of the lubricant that could be extracted were analyzed by means of GC/MS. It could be shown that all applied products suffer from cross-linking and oxidation due to the artificial ageing protocol. With regard to the results gained, all leather care products tested cannot be recommended for use in the conservation of vegetable-tanned leather.

Zusammenfassung:

Lederpflegemittel auf vegetabil gegerbtem Leder – Auswirkungen und chemische Veränderungen

Der vorliegende Beitrag befasst sich mit drei Fragen zu Lederpflegemitteln auf vegetabil gegerbtem Leder: Wie verändern Lederpflegemittel Leder? Wie tief penetrieren Lederpflegemittel in Leder, wenn sie nur von der Narbenseite her aufgetragen werden? Welches Lederpflegemittel verändert sich chemisch am geringsten? Vier Lederpflegemittel wurden untersucht: eine Ledercreme empfohlen von Larsen 2007, eine Emulsion empfohlen von der Niederländischen Nationalbibliothek, Den Haag, ein Dressing empfohlen von Fuchs (2005) und Cire 213 empfohlen von der Französischen Nationalbibliothek. Mit colorimetrischen Messungen wurden Farbveränderungen des Leders in Folge einer Nachfettung belegt. Durch Rasterelektronenmikroskopie wurde nachgewiesen, dass sich die Faserbündelabstände in der Ledermatrix durch eine Nachfettung sichtbar verändern. Gleichzeitig wurden Penetrationstiefen der Lederpflegemittel mit Fettanfärbungen von Lederquerschnitten untersucht. In einem Modellversuch wurde zudem der Effekt mechanischer Einwirkung auf die Ledermatrix nach einer Nachfettung analysiert. Chemische Veränderungen der Lederpflegemittel wurden mit Hilfe von Gaschromatographischer Massenspektrometrie nachgewiesen. Dazu wurden die nachgefetteten Lederproben klimatischem Stress ausgesetzt. Ein Resultat war, dass alle untersuchten Lederpflegemittel quervernetzen und oxidieren. Aufgrund der vorliegenden Ergebnisse kann keines der Lederpflegemittel für Konservierungsmassnahmen empfohlen werden.

Résumé:

Produits d’entretien lubrifiants appliqués sur le cuir tanné végétalement : effets et altérations chimiques

Le présent exposé traite de trois questions relatives à l’action des produits lubrifiants d’entretien sur le cuir tanné végétalement: la première question est de savoir comment ces produits lubrifiants modifient le cuir ; deuxièmement à quelle profondeur ces produits pénètrent-ils dans la membrane du cuir s’ils ne sont appliqués que du côté du grain ; et par ailleurs, quel est le produit d’entretien du cuir le plus stable du point de vue chimique ? Quatre produits d’entretien différents recommandés par les experts ont été retenus pour procéder aux tests : une crème de mégissage recommandée par Larsen en 2007 ; la Dutch émulsion recommandée par la Bibliothèque Nationale des Pays-Bas de La Haye ; un dressing suggéré par Fuchs (2005) et la Cire 213 recommandée par la Bibliothèque Nationale de France. L’équipement utilisé pour l’investigation des échantillons comportait un appareil de mesures chromatiques ainsi qu’un microscope électronique à balayage (SEM). Les mesures chromatiques ont démontré que des altérations de la couleur se produisaient suite à la lubrification. Le balayage par microscope électronique a également mis en évidence que les espaces entre les faisceaux de fibres se modifiaient sous l’action des lubrifiants, donc qu’une altération de la morphologie du cuir se produisait. Parallèlement on a analysé la profondeur de pénétration des produits d’entretien du cuir grâce à la coloration des produits lubrifiants sur des coupes transversales du cuir. On a examiné par ailleurs l’effet du traitement mécanique après lubrification. Les modifications chimiques des produits d’entretien du cuir ont été analysées au moyen de la chromatographie en phase gazeuse couplée à la spectrométrie de masse. Enfin ces échantillons de cuir après lubrification ont été soumis à un stress climatique. On a observé que tous les produits analysés n’étaient pas stables et s’oxydaient lors du vieillissement artificiel. Donc comme résultat de ces analyses il n’est possible de recommander aucun de ces produits pour la restauration des reliures de cuir tanné végétalement.

ICOM-CC Leather Working Group, Proceedings of past interim meetings available online

The following proceedings of the ICOM-CC, Leather and Related Materials (LRM) Working Group Interim Meetings have been digitized and/or made available online:

London 1992 Interim Meeting

Eds. Pieter Hallebeek, Marion Kite, Christopher Calnan 

(published in 1992)

URL / PDF

Brussels 1998 Interim Meeting

Ed. Theo Sturge 

(published in 2007)

URL / PDF

Vic 2000 Interim Meeting

Ed. Museu de l'Art de la Pell 

(published in 2004)

URL / PDF 

Athens 2004 Joint Interim Meeting

Papers/posters of LRM Working Group

Ed. Theo Sturge

(published in 2007)

URL / PDF 

Krakow 2007 Joint Interim Meeting

Paper/posters of LRM Working Group

Ed. Andreas Schulze

Paper: C. Bonnot-Diconne, J.-P. Fournet and B. Rondot; "Hanging of a XVIIth century Italian gilt leather at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris"

ULR / PDF

Poster: T. Sturge; "Gilt leather wall hangings at Dyrham Park. A trial for rehanging"

URL / PDF

Poster: M. Součkova; "Drying of leather book bindings affected by the 2002 flood"

URL / PDF

Rome 2010 Joint Interim Meeting 

Eds. Elsje Janssen, Mariabianca Paris, Malgorzata Sawicki, Kate Seymour and Andrew Thorn  

(published in 2010)

URL / PDF (restricted access)

Shagreen case, 1755-60, The MET Museum of Art

"Las encuadernaciones artísticas del siglo XVII en la Biblioteca Complutense” por Carpallo Bautista (2006)

Carpallo Bautista, A.; “Las encuadernaciones artísticas del siglo XVII en la Biblioteca Complutense” in,  S. Cabezas Fontanilla, M. Royo Martínez (ed.), V Jornadas Científicas sobre Documentación de Castilla e Indias durante el siglo XVII, Dpto. de Ciencias y Técnicas Historiográficas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (2006) 9-64

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Introducción:

La Biblioteca Histórica Marqués de Valdecilla de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid dispone de más de un centenar de encuadernaciones artísticas del siglo XVII donde podemos encontrar ornamentaciones de los estilos decorativos más representativos de la época como el denominado tipo abanico, a la Duseuil, Legascon, y pergaminos teñidos, pintados o jaspeados. Este trabajo pretende dar a conocer este tipo de encuadernaciones artísticas, estudiando los materiales y técnicas empleadas en la construcción de la encuadernación y las diferentes técnicas decorativas. También se hará un recorrido por las personalidades (nobles, reyes, eclesiásticos) que han estampado sus ex libris en las cubiertas.

Leather Work by Wilson (1908)

Wilson, W.; Leather Work, New York (1908)
URL (Internet Archive)


Table of contents:
Foreword

Kinds of Leather and Their Treatment

Design

Tracing and Design

Pyrography

Carving and Incising

Engraving

Modeling and Embossing

Stamping and Tooling

Cut Work

Appliqué

Inlay or Mosaic

Coloring and Gilding

Illustrations

Patterns

On parchment, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 402(4) (2012)

No número 4, volume 402, da revista Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry foram publicados vários artigos dedicados ao tema Analytical Techniques in Art, Archaeology and Conservation Science (pp. 1411-1592). Quatro desses artigos são sobre o estudo de pergaminho através de diferentes técnicas analíticas. Os autores, títulos e os respectivas resumos são os seguintes:

- T. Wolff, I. Rabin, I. Mantouvalou, B. Kanngießer, W. Malzer, E. Kindzorra and O. Hahn; “Provenance studies on Dead Sea scrolls parchment by means of quantitative micro-XRF”, pp. 1493-1503

DOI: 10.1007/s00216-011-5270-2 (restricted access)

Abstract:

In this study, we address the question of the provenance and origin of the Dead Sea Scrolls manuscripts. A characteristic low ratio of chlorine to bromine, corresponding to that of the Dead Sea water, may serve as an indicator for local production. For this aim we developed a non-destructive procedure to determine the Cl/Br ratio in the parchment of these manuscripts. Micro-X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) measurements of a large number of parchment and leather fragments from the Dead Sea Scrolls were analyzed with a routine we developed based on fundamental parameter quantification. This routine takes into account the absorption of the collagen matrix and the influence of the different sample thicknesses. To calculate the representative Cl/Br ratio for each fragment, we investigated the lateral homogeneity and determined the total mass deposition using the intensity of the inelastically scattered, characteristic tube radiation. The distribution of the Cl/Br ratios thus obtained from the μ-XRF measurements make it possible to distinguish fragments whose origin lies within the Dead Sea region from those produced in other locations.

- F. Pinzari, P. Colaizzi, O. Maggi, A. M. Persiani, R. Schütz and I. Rabin; “Fungal bioleaching of mineral components in a twentieth-century illuminated parchment”, pp. 1541-1550

DOI: 10.1007/s00216-011-5263-1 (restricted access)

Abstract:

In this work, we applied scanning electron microscopy (SEM), microanalysis and Raman spectroscopy to study the fungi inhabiting a richly illuminated parchment document and the damage induced by their activity. To that aim, we collected samples of fungal mycelium from the deteriorated areas on a removable adhesive tape specifically intended for lifting fungi without damaging the support. SEM analysis of the adhesive tape samples showed the co-occurrence of several species of fungi. One strain closely resembling Acremonium species was observed only in the tape micrographs but no agar cultures were obtained. Its fungal structures showed the production of abundant oxalates with an outstanding leaching of the calcium-based materials of parchment (typically manufactured with gypsum and lime). Needle-like crystals of calcium oxalate produced by the fungus forming a uniform and quite regular grid around conidial slimy heads were documented. As a result, the areas affected by moulds were weakened, stained and characterised by a powdery patina rich in calcium. Confocal μ-Raman confirmed the presence of oxalates while EDS showed the presence of calcium in crystals. We conclude that the defacement of the parchment was due to both collagenolytic activity, and to the biotransformation of calcium-based minerals by fungi.

- A. Masic, M. R. Chierotti, R. Gobetto, G. Martra,I. Rabin and S. Coluccia; “Solid-state and unilateral NMR study of deterioration of a Dead Sea Scroll fragment”, pp. 1551-1557

DOI: 10.1007/s00216-011-5265-z (restricted access)

Abstract:

Unilateral and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses were performed on a parchment fragment of the Dead Sea Scroll (DSS). The analyzed sample belongs to the collection of non-inscribed and non treated fragments of known archaeological provenance from the John Rylands University Library in Manchester. Therefore, it can be considered as original DSS material free from any contamination related to the post-discovery period. Considering the paramount significance of the DSS, non invasive approaches and portable in situ non destructive methods are of fundamental importance for the determination of composition, structure, and chemical–physical properties of the materials under study. NMR studies reveal low amounts of water content associated with very short proton relaxation times, T 1, indicating a high level of deterioration of collagen molecules within scroll fragments. In addition, ¹³C cross-polarization magic-angle-spinning (CPMAS) NMR spectroscopy shows characteristic peaks of lipids whose presence we attribute to the production technology that did not involve liming. Extraction with chloroform led to the reduction of both lipid and protein signals in the ¹³C CPMAS spectrum indicating probable involvement of lipids in parchment degradation processes. NMR absorption and relaxation measurements provide non destructive, discriminative, and sensitive tools for studying the deterioration effects on the organization and properties of water and collagen within ancient manuscripts.

- A. Možir, L. Gonzalez, I. Kralj Cigić, T. J. Wess, I. Rabin, O. Hahn and M. Strlič; “A study of degradation of historic parchment using small-angle X-ray scattering, synchrotron-IR and multivariate data analysis”, pp. 1559-1566

DOI: 10.1007/s00216-011-5392-6 (restricted access)

Abstract:

Parchment has been in use for thousands of years and has been used as the writing or drawing support for many important historic works. A variety of analytical techniques is currently used for routine assessment of the degree of denaturation of historic parchment; however, because parchment has a heterogeneous nature, analytical methods with high spatial resolution are desirable. In this work, the use of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and synchrotron-IR (SR-IR) was examined in conjunction with multivariate data analysis to study degradation of an extended set of historic parchment samples, and particularly to investigate the effect of lipids and the presence of iron gall ink on the degradation processes. In the data analysis, shrinkage temperature, lipid content, sample age, presence of ink and accelerated degradation were included. The analysis of loading factors in partial least-squares regression and principal component analyses based on SAXS, SR-IR and other analytical and descriptive data reveals the effect of lipid removal on diffraction patterns, and lipids are found to cause the degradation process in parchment to accelerate. The effect of iron gall ink is also evident, although the mechanism of ageing is different to that of natural ageing in the absence of ink. In addition, a historic parchment score from ca. 1750 is examined, demonstrating the significant effect of iron gall ink, and lipids and inorganic soiling on its increased degradation.  

Shadow theatre figures, China, 19th century, The MET Museum of Art

"The Campeche Chair in the Metropolitan Museum of Art" by Gontar (2003)

Gontar, Cybèle Trione; “The Campeche Chair in the Metropolitan Museum of Art”, Metropolitan Museum Journal, 38 (2003) 183-212

JSTOR (restricted access)  / PDF

Campeche chair, ca. 1800–1810, The MET Museum of Art

Goldleder zwischen 1500 und 1800 - Herstellung und Erhaltung, Schulze (2010)

Andreas Schulze, Goldleder zwischen 1500 und 1800 - Herstellung und Erhaltung, Dissertation zur Erlangung des Grades eines Doktors der Geisteswissenschaften im Studiengang Kunsttechnologie, Konservierung und Restaurierung von Kunst- und Kulturgut, Hochschule für Bildende Künste Dresden, 2010

PDF1 / PDF 2

Zusammenfassung

Für die Entwicklung geeigneter Strategien und Methoden zur Erhaltung von Kunstund Kulturgut ist die detaillierte Kenntnis der ursprünglichen Herstellungsverfahren und der verwendeten Materialien eine unverzichtbare Voraussetzung.

Im Falle des Goldleders gerieten diese Kenntnisse gegen Ende des 18. Jahrhunderts vollständig in Vergessenheit. Die Wiederentdeckung der Herstellungsdetails war das Hauptanliegen der vorliegenden Arbeit. Dazu wurden 27 Quellenschriften zu den verschiedenen Aspekten der Goldlederherstellung aus Spanien, Italien, den Niederlanden, England, Frankreich und Deutschland ausgewertet. Der Schwerpunkt lag dabei auf der Blütezeit des Goldleders vom Beginn des 16. bis zum Ende des 18. Jahrhunderts, wobei aber auch einige mittelalterliche Quellen zu den frühen Anfängen oder Vorläufern des „klassischen“ Goldleders mit einbezogen wurden.

Die gewonnenen Informationen wurden durch ein Nachvollziehen der Handlungsanweisungen für alle Herstellungsschritte des Goldleders in der Praxis überprüft und mit den erhaltenen Goldledertapeten im Schloss Moritzburg, aber auch mit bereits abgeschlossenen Untersuchungen anderer Stücke verglichen.

Eine weitere wichtige Zielrichtung dieser Arbeit bestand darin, die aus den historischen Quellen sowie der Untersuchung des vorhandenen Goldlederbestandes zu gewinnenden materialspezifischen und herstellungstechnischen Erkenntnisse sowohl für die Entwicklung komplexer Erhaltungsstrategien als auch für konkrete Konservierungs- beziehungsweise Restaurierungsmethoden nutzbar zu machen.

Abstract

A detailed knowledge of the original techniques of manufacture and of the used materials is essentially for the development of suitable strategies and methods for the preservation of cultural heritage.

In the case of gilt leather these skills had been lost completely at the end of the 18th century. The aim of the presented work was the rediscovery of the lost knowledge.

For this purpose 27 written sources about the different aspects of gilt leather production from Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, Great Britain, France and Germany had been analysed. The emphasis of these researches was placed on the period of flowering of gilt leather between the beginning of the 16th and the end of the 18th century. Nevertheless some medieval art technological sources to the early roots or predecessors of the “classical” gilt leather have been included into account.

The results of these researches have been verified in practice by the reconstruction of the historic descriptions for all steps of gilt leather manufacture and compared also with the results of the scientific examination of the original gilt leather wallhangings of Moritzburg castle and similar objects.

Another important aim of this work was it, to use the rediscovered art technological knowledge, which could be obtained by the examination of the historic sources and of the original objects, for the development of complex strategies and concrete methods for the conservation-restoration of gilt leather objects in general.

Gilt leather chasuble, 17th century, The MET Museum of Art

"Studies of Ancient Egyptian Footwear.Technological Aspects. Part XIV" by Veldmeijer (2011)

Veldmeijer, A. J.; “Studies of Ancient Egyptian Footwear. Technological Aspects. Part XIV. Leather Eared Sandals”, Palarch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology 8(5) (2011) 1-31

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Abstract:

Leather Eared Sandals, i.e. sandals with pre-straps that are cut from the sole’s leather, are a well known category of sandals in ancient Egypt, mainly because the manufacturing is depicted in scenes that decorate tombs. Based on archaeological finds, we can recognise several subcategories and types. The present paper, as part of the Ancient Egyptian Footwear Project’s publication series, presents the technological details of this category of leather sandals. As usual in this series of papers, other topics are discussed in passing.

"Non-Destructive Characterisation and Dating of Historic Parchment Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy" by Možir et al (2011)

Možir, A.; Strlič, M.; De Bruin, G.; Trafela, T.; Kralj Cigić, I.; Kolar, J.; Deselnicu, V.; "Non-Destructive Characterisation and Dating of Historic Parchment Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy", International Conference on non-destructive investigations and microanalysis for the diagnostics and conservation of cultural and environmental heritage (ART 2011), 13-15 April 2011, Florence, Italy

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Abstract:

Parchment is a complex natural material made from animal skin, which has been used as a writing support and for bookbinding. Due to the historic value of objects made of parchment, understanding of their degradation and their conservation is of high importance to archives, libraries and museums. It was recently shown that lipid content in parchment may have an important influence on collagen degradation, probably via autoxidation. For parchment, a direct link between lipid content and degradation has, however, still not been demonstrated. The goal of this research presented here was to introduce NIR spectroscopy as a new non-destructive spectroscopic method of characterization of proteinaceous historic materials and to examine the relations between lipid content and degradation of parchment, measuring shrinkage temperature.

"The Bourdichon Nativity: A masterpiece of light and colour" by Burgio et al (2009)

Burgio, L.; Clark, R. J. H.; Hark, R.; "The Bourdichon Nativity: A Masterpiece of light and colour", V&A Conservation Journal 58 (2009) 36-37
URL

The Bourdichon Nativity, miniature on parchment, c.1498, Victoria & Albert Museum

"Microstructural, chemical and isotopic evidence for the origin of late neolithic leather recovered from an ice field in the Swiss Alps" by Spangenberg et al (2010)

Spangenberg, J. E.; Ferrer, M.; Tschudin, P.; Volken, M.; Hafner, A.; “Microstructural, chemical and isotopic evidence for the origin of late neolithic leather recovered from an ice field in the Swiss Alps”, Journal of Archaeological Science 37(8) (2010) 1851-1865

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2010.02.003 (restricted access)

Abstract:

Archaeological leather samples recovered from the ice field at the Schnidejoch Pass (altitude 2756 m amsl) in the western Swiss Alps were studied using optical, chemical molecular and isotopic (δ13C and δ15N of the bulk leather, and compound-specific δ13C analyses of the organic-solvent extracted fatty acids) methods to obtain insight into the origin of the leather and ancient tanning procedures. For comparison, leathers from modern native animals in alpine environment (red deer, goat, sheep, chamois, and calf/cow) were analyzed using the same approach. Optical and electron microscopically comparisons of Schnidejoch and modern leathers showed that the gross structure (pattern of collagen fibrils and intra-fibrils material) of archaeological leather had survived essentially intact for five millennia. The SEM studies of the hairs from the most important archaeological find, a Neolithic leather legging, show a wave structure of the hair cuticle, which is a diagnostic feature for goatskins. The variations of the bulk δ13C and δ15N values, and δ13C values of the main fatty acids are within the range expected for pre-industrial temperate C3 environment. The archaeological leather samples contain a mixture of indigenous (from the animal) and exogenous plant/animal lipids. An important amount of waxy n-alkanes, n-alkan-1-ols and phytosterols (β-sitosterol, sitostanol) in all samples, and abundant biomarker of conifers (nonacosan-10-ol) in the legging leathers clearly indicate that the Neolithic people were active in a subalpine coniferous forest, and that they used an aqueous extract of diverse plant material for tanning leather.

"3D Micro-XRF for Cultural Heritage Objects: New Analysis Strategies for the Investigation of the Dead Sea Scrolls” by Mantouvalou et al (2011)

Mantouvalou, I.; Wolff, T.; Hahn, O.; Rabin, I.; Lühl, L.; Pagels, M.; Malzer, W.; Kanngiesser, B.; “3D Micro-XRF for Cultural Heritage Objects: New Analysis Strategies for the Investigation of the Dead Sea Scrolls”, Analytical Chemistry 83 (16) (2011) 6308–6315

DOI: 10.1021/ac2011262 (restricted access)

Abstract:

A combination of 3D micro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (3D micro-XRF) and micro-XRF was utilized for the investigation of a small collection of highly heterogeneous, partly degraded Dead Sea Scroll parchment samples from known excavation sites. The quantitative combination of the two techniques proves to be suitable for the identification of reliable marker elements which may be used for classification and provenance studies. With 3D micro-XRF, the three-dimensional nature, i.e. the depth-resolved elemental composition as well as density variations, of the samples was investigated and bromine could be identified as a suitable marker element. It is shown through a comparison of quantitative and semi quantitative values for the bromine content derived using both techniques that, for elements which are homogeneously distributed in the sample matrix, quantification with micro-XRF using a one-layer model is feasible. Thus, the possibility for routine provenance studies using portable micro-XRF instrumentation on a vast amount of samples, even on site, is obtained through this work.