A recent study published in Royal Society Open Science has revealed surprising findings about the covers of rare, fur-covered volumes from 12th and 13th-century French monasteries. Contrary to the assumption that these books were wrapped in boar or deer skin, researchers discovered that the outermost protective cover, known as the chemise, was actually made from seal skins. These books originated from Clairvaux Abbey and its daughter monasteries, with some volumes dating back nearly 900 years. Book conservator Élodie Lévêque used a microscope to investigate the covers and found that they were made of sheepskin, but the furry chemise posed a challenge in identification.
To determine the origin of the skins used in the chemise covers, scientists compared proteins in the chemise samples to known animal proteins. The results confirmed that the skins were indeed from seals. This discovery was initially met with disbelief due to the unusual nature of using seal skins for book covers in medieval France. DNA analysis of the chemise covers revealed that four were genetically similar to harbor seals from Scandinavia, Denmark, and Scotland, while the fifth chemise was similar to harp seals, likely from Greenland or Iceland. In total, 43 seal-skin books were cataloged as part of the study.
The researchers proposed that Norse hunters may have caught seals in regions like Scandinavia and Greenland and transported the skins through trading routes to northern France. It is suggested that the monks who covered the books with seal skins may not have been aware of the origin of the materials. Despite their worn and brownish appearance today, the chemise covers would have originally been furrier and of a lighter color, resembling a teddy bear. This unexpected revelation sheds light on the extensive trade networks that existed during the medieval period and challenges previous assumptions about the materials used in bookbinding.
The significance of this study lies in uncovering the connections between different regions through the trade of raw materials, such as seal skins, for bookbinding purposes. The collaboration between book conservators and scientists has provided valuable insights into the historical practices of medieval book production. By utilizing advanced techniques like DNA analysis, researchers were able to accurately identify the source of the skins used in these ancient books, highlighting the complex networks of exchange that facilitated the movement of goods across vast distances.
Overall, this study demonstrates how interdisciplinary research combining the fields of history, archaeology, conservation, and genetics can lead to new discoveries about the material culture of the past. The findings also underscore the importance of reexamining artifacts with modern scientific methods to unravel hidden stories and connections that may have been overlooked or misunderstood in the past. The seal-skin books from medieval French monasteries serve as a fascinating example of the unexpected beneficiaries of medieval trading routes and the intricate interplay between cultures during that time.
