Weronika Liazewska et al: Analysis and conservation of Ethiopian parchment manuscripts in the University Library in Warsaw

The tradition of creating manuscripts on parchment in Ethiopia is very long, probably longer than the presence of Christianity in this area. The parchment, called biranna in Ethiopia, has been widely used since antiquity and until today. The technical part of this process hasn’t changed significantly through the centuries. It is still quite simplified and in many ways very similar to the processes used in the beginning of our era.

Investigating the technology and condition of these manuscripts is essential for the proper care of these objects. The analysis of the structure of the parchment manuscripts is presented in the article, include differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) and Raman spectroscopy. The layers in the structure of parchment are clearly visible in the microscopic magnification, showing  areas of severe gelatinization in the upper part.

The issues involved in the conservation of Ethiopian manuscripts on parchment are presented using the examples of a magical scroll and codex from the collection of University Library in Warsaw. The typical damages and the problems of the particular treatments are discussed. A new method of parchment leafcasting is in this case one of the possibilities of the infilling of very gelatinized structures. The problems of the storage of these parchment manuscripts are also discussed in terms of their sensitivity to hydrothermal conditions.

Authors:

Weronika Liszewska, Jacek Tomaszewski, Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw and Ewa Balicka-Witakowska, Uppsala University.