A GLANCE TO THE FRAGMENTA MEMBRANEA MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION THROUGH FTIR AND RADIOCARBON ANALYSES
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A GLANCE TO THE FRAGMENTA MEMBRANEA MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION THROUGH FTIR AND RADIOCARBON ANALYSES. / Kasso, T. M.; Kytökari, M.; Oinonen, M.; Mizohata, K.; Tahkokallio, J.; Heikkilä, T.
In: Radiocarbon, Vol. 65, No. 1, 2023, p. 155-171.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - A GLANCE TO THE FRAGMENTA MEMBRANEA MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION THROUGH FTIR AND RADIOCARBON ANALYSES
AU - Kasso, T. M.
AU - Kytökari, M.
AU - Oinonen, M.
AU - Mizohata, K.
AU - Tahkokallio, J.
AU - Heikkilä, T.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - The Fragmenta membranea manuscript fragment collection at the National Library of Finland has proved challenging to date using only traditional paleography. Therefore, radiocarbon dates can contribute to the understanding of these fragments by offering a parallel natural scientific timeline for the parchment the manuscripts are written on. In this study, we apply our previously developed method for radiocarbon dating medieval manuscripts made of parchment. In total 35 datings were made from 14 separate assemblages of manuscripts, being the first systematic wide-scale application of radiocarbon dating to a collection of medieval manuscripts in order to improve their chronological proxy. Additionally, due to the fragmentary and sometimes poor condition of the manuscript fragments of Fragmenta membranea analyzed in this study, we used Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to evaluate the quality of the collagen and the presence of contaminants in the fragments affecting the radiocarbon dates. We report out radiocarbon dating results and FTIR screenings for each sample and for each manuscript assemblage, and discuss the applicability of our method in further studies of applying radiocarbon dating on objects of cultural historical interest and value. The results indicate an essential role of high-quality samples and multiple measurements to interpret the radiocarbon dating results.
AB - The Fragmenta membranea manuscript fragment collection at the National Library of Finland has proved challenging to date using only traditional paleography. Therefore, radiocarbon dates can contribute to the understanding of these fragments by offering a parallel natural scientific timeline for the parchment the manuscripts are written on. In this study, we apply our previously developed method for radiocarbon dating medieval manuscripts made of parchment. In total 35 datings were made from 14 separate assemblages of manuscripts, being the first systematic wide-scale application of radiocarbon dating to a collection of medieval manuscripts in order to improve their chronological proxy. Additionally, due to the fragmentary and sometimes poor condition of the manuscript fragments of Fragmenta membranea analyzed in this study, we used Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to evaluate the quality of the collagen and the presence of contaminants in the fragments affecting the radiocarbon dates. We report out radiocarbon dating results and FTIR screenings for each sample and for each manuscript assemblage, and discuss the applicability of our method in further studies of applying radiocarbon dating on objects of cultural historical interest and value. The results indicate an essential role of high-quality samples and multiple measurements to interpret the radiocarbon dating results.
KW - collagen
KW - contamination
KW - FTIR
KW - parchment
KW - pre-screening
KW - radiocarbon dating
KW - SPECTROSCOPY
KW - DEGRADATION
KW - PARCHMENT
KW - SAMPLES
U2 - 10.1017/RDC.2022.81
DO - 10.1017/RDC.2022.81
M3 - Journal article
VL - 65
SP - 155
EP - 171
JO - Radiocarbon
JF - Radiocarbon
SN - 0033-8222
IS - 1
ER -
ID: 327387224