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Discoveries and oddities in library materials

2015; Elsevier BV; Volume: 124; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.microc.2015.09.028

1095-9149

Marina Bicchieri, Flavia Pinzari,

Conservation Techniques and Studies

Surprising discoveries can happen while analyzing library materials. This paper presents four case studies focusing on four artifacts of different ages and provenances, all analyzed and studied at the Istituto Centrale per il Restauro e la Conservazione del Patrimonio Archivistico e Librario (Icrcpal). The common denominator amongst the case studies presented in this work, lies in the need for a strong interconnection between the analysis of biological issues and chemical data. The interplay between the two complementary approaches is paramount for the correct interpretation of the status of the material under examination as, as will be shown in the following case studies, chemical data could find an interpretation only in the face of biological observations and vice versa. The first case we here present, deals with two parchment codices that have been found in 2008 during a fishing expedition in the Canale di Sicilia. At that time a deep-sea fishing boat belonging to the fleet of Mazara del Vallo caught in its nets, two artifacts, leading to the first discovery of library materials in the deep sea. The Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) analyses allowed for the creation of a compositional map of the surface of the samples, where several microscopic encrusting sea organisms and biogenic materials were also observed. Almost nothing of the original structure of the parchment (of which the object is presumably made) could be recognized at SEM. The absence of the typical collagen features was confirmed by Raman analyses that could only collect spectra of an isoprenic-type polymer of putative biogenic origin. The second case deals with fragments of medieval manuscripts that were found in 2007 buried in the walls of the Great Mosque of Sana'a in Yemen. An outstanding discovery regarded the dark brown inks used on a Qur'ānic fragment attributed to the 10th century. SEM micrographs disclosed the presence of red blood cells mixed to ink components. The inks were also investigated with Raman spectroscopy. The third case study is the book "Libretto di appunti e memorie del Padre Francesco Zazzera", dated 17th century that presented a peculiar modification of the black ink that appeared to be faded and turned to a white-yellowish color. Raman and SEM analyses recognized and documented a biogenic formation of jarosite on top of the ink. It was possible to remove the jarosite layer and to recover the original black ink, thus allowing an easier reading of the text. The fourth and last case analyzed and presented in this paper consists of the measurements on the invaluable Codex Purpureus Rossanensis dated 6th century. Raman spectroscopy here allowed the demonstration of the use of an elderberry lake to obtain a mauve color. This is the first experimental evidence of the use of that particular dye in such an ancient illuminated manuscript. A sort of archeological discovery was also done on this codex with respect to the past misfortunes that occurred to it; by simply observing some traces we were able to support some intriguing hypothesis on its history and vicissitudes.