VSC Technology Aids Investigation into “Hagenes Codex”: Potentially Norway’s Oldest Book
.Advanced forensic technology is helping researchers at the National Library of Norway unlock the secrets of a rare medieval manuscript that could rewrite the history of Norwegian bookbinding.
The manuscript, known as the Hagenes Codex, is a small Christian hymnbook believed to date back to around AD 1200. Bound in sealskin and preserved for centuries by a local farming family, the book is now the subject of a detailed scientific investigation to confirm its origin and age.
To analyse the fragile artefact without causing damage, conservators are utilising the Foster+Freeman VSC 8000/HS, a state-of-the-art video spectral comparator designed for high-level forensic examination.
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Uncovering Invisible Details
While the manuscript’s rustic Latin script and uneven handwriting suggest it was created by a local Norwegian craftsman rather than a continental professional, scientific verification is required.
Using the VSC 8000/HS, researchers can perform non-destructive examination of the manuscript’s materials. The instrument’s multispectral imaging capabilities allow the team to:
Analyse Inks and Pigments: By viewing the text under different wavelengths of light (from UV to IR), conservators can characterise the black and red inks used for the liturgical chants and the blue-green initials, helping to differentiate original text from later additions or repairs.
Examine the Binding: The VSC’s high-magnification and surface analysis tools are critical in inspecting the unique sealskin cover, a feature unknown in other medieval Norwegian books. The system helps document the condition of the hair follicles and the stitching, providing data that complements DNA analysis.
Enhance Faded Features: The manuscript has suffered from centuries of wear, but the VSC 8000/HS can reveal faded musical notation (neumes) and text that are barely visible to the naked eye.
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A Rare Glimpse into Medieval Norway
The Hagenes Codex contains eight liturgical chants, including songs for the Virgin Mary and All Saints’ Day. If the ongoing analysis confirms the book’s local production, it would be the only known Norwegian book from the medieval era bound in sealskin.
While sealskin bindings were used by Cistercian monks in France, they used skins imported from Scandinavia and Scotland. The Hagenes Codex appears to be a distinct, locally produced artefact. “In the seal-skin book, all the elements are original. That makes it only the second book from the Middle Ages preserved in its entirety,” Palandri noted in reports on the find.
Preserving Heritage with Forensic Science
The investigation highlights the growing importance of forensic technology in heritage science. By employing the VSC 8000/HS, the National Library of Norway can delve deeper into the physical history of the Hagenes Codex, identifying the “homemade” techniques of its creator while ensuring the preservation of this national treasure.
The results of the examination, combined with protein analysis of the parchment and leather, are expected to confirm the manuscript’s status as Norway’s oldest surviving book.
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