The article delves into a comprehensive study of a twelfth-century manuscript from the Alcobaça Monastery’s scriptorium. The interdisciplinary team employed a multi-analytical approach, combining methods from human to natural sciences, to examine the manuscript’s historical and technical aspects. Through liturgical text content analysis and codicological studies, the team aimed to characterise the materials of the codex and its repairs. Various techniques such as optical microscopy, fiber-optic reflectance spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy were utilised to analyse the manuscript’s composition and alterations.
The study revealed the monks’ meticulous care in preserving the manuscript, evident through the interventions and repairs made over time. The manuscript’s cultural significance was underscored by the team’s interpretations of these alterations, shedding light on the manuscript’s role within the Cistercian monastery during the Middle Ages. The acquired data not only confirmed the historical importance of the manuscript but also provided valuable insights for future digital access policies and conservation decisions.
Overall, the research highlighted the intricate history and craftsmanship behind the psalter-hymnal from Alcobaça Monastery, emphasising its significance as a cultural and historical artefact. The study’s findings contribute to a deeper understanding of mediaeval codices, material analysis, codicology, liturgy studies, conservation practices, and digital access strategies. This in-depth analysis serves as a testament to the monks’ dedication to preserving their monastic library and provides a foundation for further research and conservation efforts in the field of mediaeval manuscript studies.
