Hidden notes written without ink have been found on the pages of an early medieval book. Now it is stored
Researchers believe this is the worka high-ranking, highly educated woman. At the time the notes were made - 1200 years ago - when only the elite could read and write. Many of the scribbles contain the Old English female name Edburgh, which researchers believe belongs to the person who made the notes.
Secret entries and drawings found on the pagesa rare manuscript known as MS Selden Supra 30, which was made in southern England between 700 and 750 AD. Image Credit: ARCHIOX/Bodleian Libraries
The meaning of almost invisible sketches on the pagesremains unclear. One page shows a man with his arms outstretched, extending one of them to another. He, in turn, raises his hand, as if stopping the partner’s movements. What this means, scientists do not know. One theory is that Eadburgh wrote her name to highlight passages of MS Selden Supra 30 that were significant to her. It is a Latin copy of the Acts of the Apostles and was made in southern England between 700 and 750 AD.
This drawing depicts a person with outstretched arms reaching out to another person. Image Credit: ARCHIOX/Bodleian Libraries
So far, scientists have discovered that the nameEadburg is written entirely on five different manuscript pages. Other abbreviated forms of the name, including E, EAD and EADB, appeared in the margins of these and other pages 10 more times.
Edburgh, a feminine Old English name, is written without ink. Image credit: ARCHIOX/Bodleian Libraries
The manuscript was studied using processing technologyimages developed as part of the Bodleian's Analyzing and Recording Cultural Heritage in Oxford (ARCHiOx) project in collaboration with the Factum Foundation, a non-profit group from Spain that preserves old works of art using digital technology. The project was sponsored by the British Helen Hamlyn Trust.
A digital reconstruction of the first page of the manuscript shows an inkless inscription at the top left.
Image Credit: ARCHIOX/Bodleian Libraries
Scientists have discovered hidden words and pictureson a rare manuscript using the photometric stereo recording method. By changing lighting conditions, the system creates a 3D model of the object's surface. This reveals small marks the size of one-fifth the width of a human hair.
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