Expedition: Bodleian Library

The venerated library at the University of Oxford is one of the oldest in Europe and houses the largest collection of pre-1500 printed books and parchment manuscripts. They have at least 105 Greek New Testament manuscripts, and potentially several more based on our most recent examination. Several documents are palimpsest manuscripts and will benefit greatly from multispectral imaging (MSI.)

The first phase of any digitization project includes a detailed examination of each manuscript, during which we collect critical data. We measure the leaves and the binding at several points. We carefully count each leaf and note any additional material inserted or attached. We create a table of contents and describe important features, such as artwork, decorations, and writing in the margins.

An important part of examination is noting the possibility of palimpsest text, writing that has been scraped off to allow someone to reuse the parchment. Often, hidden biblical text lies beneath the visible handwriting.

Our team has completed the examination of the first 50 manuscripts. We must return to complete the examination of the remaining documents and then, in collaboration with the Bodleian staff, digitize the entire collection.

Many of the manuscripts held at the Bodleian have never been digitized. In fact, many have never been photographed at all! These manuscripts will become new sources of data for scholars.