Research

Material analyses at the Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures, University of Hamburg

On 12-13 February 2024, an expert meeting was held on the topic of the Graz Mummy Book. The participants, who are experts in the fields of ancient history, book history and conservation, papyrology and papyrus conservation, and analytical chemistry, examined the papyrus fragment using a digital microscope. Discussions on the various possibilities of interpreting the fragment resulted in general agreement that the fragment is significant for early book history. The results of the meeting will be published soon. 

In August 2024, the fragment was investigated at the Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures, University of Hamburg using state-of-the-art non-invasive technologies for material analyses. Amongst other things, X-ray fluorescence and multispectral analyses were applied to the investigation of inks and pigments while holes, thread fragments and fibres were analysed under a 3D microscope. The results of these examinations will be discussed with the Graz team in June 2025 and will then be prepared for publication.

Colleagues working in other collections will systematically start looking for similar fragments.