Composition of the primary inks in medieval palimpsests – effects of ink removal
Composition of the primary inks in medieval palimpsests – effects of ink removal

Summary/Abstract: The qualitative and quantitative investigations of historical iron-gall inks by use of μ-XRF spectrometry is a common method for analyzing the differences in their composition. When a fingerprint is established, it is possible to characterize the distinguishable inks used in the production of medieval manuscripts, and, in turn assist in the reconstruction of the manuscript’s history. The characterization of the primary inks in palimpsests, i.e. manuscripts written on re-used parchment, presents a serious problem as the effect of the partial removal on the inks fingerprint is yet known. In this paper we explore our preliminary results concerning the effects of two removal techniques on the fingerprint of iron-gall inks on parchment.

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