Fragments of a rare Merlin manuscript from c. 1300

The discovery set off an extensive conservation and research project, supported by the University Library with funding from Cambridge Digital Humanities. The fragment’s condition posed a significant challenge. It was fragile, with tears and folds that made it difficult to handle. Traditional methods of conservation might have involved physically removing the binding to unfold the fragment, but this risked causing irreparable damage. Instead, the team decided to preserve the fragment in situ, keeping it as an example of 16th-century archival binding practices while using cutting-edge technology to virtually unfold and digitise it. “It’s not just about the text itself, but also about the material artefact. The way it was reused tells us about archival practices in 16th-century England. It’s a piece of history in its own right.” Dr. Fabry-Tehranchi explaining the importance of preserving the fragment in its original state A multidisciplinary team comprising curators, conservators, and ... Read full article.