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.”
A multidisciplinary team comprising curators, conservators, and imaging specialists from across the University of Cambridge, including departments such as Archives and Modern Manuscripts, Conservation & Heritage, and Collections and Academic Liaison, all worked together with CHIL to analyse and digitise the fragment.
The methods undertaken by Amélie Deblauwe, Błażej Mikuła and Maciej Pawlikowski from CHIL, with the support of Jennifer Murray from the Library’s Conservation Department, allowed them to unfold the fragment virtually and access hidden parts of the text.
To achieve this, the team undertook:
Multispectral Imaging (MSI)
This technique used in CHIL involved capturing the fragment in various wavelengths of light, from ultraviolet to infrared.
The high-resolution images produced by MSI allowed the team to enhance the readability of the text. Images processed using geospatial software revealed details that were invisible to the naked eye.
The fragment had been heavily rubbed and worn from its use as a cover, but MSI helped to bring out the text and highlighted annotations in the margins.
Computed Tomography (CT) scanning
Conducted with equipment and expertise from the University’s Zoology department, the team used a powerful X-ray scanner—typically used for scanning fossils or skeletons—to virtually penetrate the layers of parchment and uncover hidden structures in the binding.
It provided a 3D model of the fragment and its binding and allows researchers to examine the structure of the binding without physically dismantling it. The scan revealed how the fragment had been stitched into the cover, providing insights into 16th-century archival binding techniques.
A micro CT scan of the binding structure utilises advanced segmenting structures to separate different materials within the manuscript, such as threads used in the binding. By digitally removing the book and leaving just the thread, the model provides a clearer view, enabling precise viewing and facilitating more accurate research. Use your mouse to rotate, zoom, and examine the binding in detail.
A CT scanner relies on the difference in density of the material. In this case both materials were the same density. The pages were stitched using thin strips of the same or similar parchment. The team spotted enough gap between the pages and the stitching to record that separation.
3D modelling
Industrial scanning techniques created highly detailed virtual models of the fragment, allowing researchers to study its creases, stitching, and folds in remarkable detail.
A 3D model of the manuscript. Use your mouse to rotate, zoom, and examine the text in detail.
Virtual unfolding
The fragment’s text was not in a straightforward sequence; parts of it were hidden under folds or stitched into the binding.
Using mirrors, prisms, magnets, and other tools, the team at CHIL carefully photographed each section of the fragment. The hundreds of resulting images were then painstakingly reassembled digitally, much like a jigsaw, to create a coherent image of the text.
By manipulating the digital images, the team could simulate what the document might look like if it were physically opened.
Scroll down to watch the unfolding.