Practices of the Mont Saint-Michel scriptorium in the use of parchment for manuscripts in the 11th century

A groundbreaking study reveals that the Mont Saint-Michel scriptorium's choice of parchment was deliberately tied to manuscript content and prestige. Analyzing 67 manuscripts from 980 to 1100, researchers used codicological studies, proteomic analyses, and thickness measurements to show that sheep parchment was reserved for text-heavy or lightly illuminated folios, while calfskin was selectively used for high-value elements like full-page illuminations and ornate opening letters. Four exceptionally prestigious manuscripts were entirely crafted from calfskin, with one incorporating goatskin, underscoring their liturgical significance. This discovery provides unprecedented insights into 11th-century parchment production practices and manuscript valuation.

Robinet, L., Heu-Thao, S., Arberet, L., Michelin, A., Belhadj, O., Radepont, M., & Lecouteux, S. (2024). Practices of the Mont Saint-Michel scriptorium in the use of parchment for manuscripts in the 11th century. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 67, 452–460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2024.03.013