INSULAR
@insularmss.bsky.social
Insular Manuscripts in the Age of Charlemagne: ERC Advanced Grant research project (2024–2029). Run by Prof. Jo Story, with Dr Anna Dorofeeva and partners in libraries & universities across Europe. Funded by UKRI.
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INSULAR
@insularmss.bsky.social
· Apr 11
Exciting news! @ERC_Research grants #ERCAdG to INSULAR MSS in the Age of Charlemagne (€2.5m). Our team includes
@litteracarolina.mastodon.online & partners in libraries & universities across Europe incl. @ercb2c @brad_dan @CharlotteDenoel @LieveWatteeuw @bodleianlibs @BLMedieval
@litteracarolina.mastodon.online & partners in libraries & universities across Europe incl. @ercb2c @brad_dan @CharlotteDenoel @LieveWatteeuw @bodleianlibs @BLMedieval
One of our project members, Jessica Hendy-Hodgkinson, will be presenting the results of some of her amazing research here. Do tune in!
Only a few tickets left! But the good news is that you can join us via Teams! 🎉
Register here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/eec9de...
The countdown has started 🥁
#medievalsky
#manuscripts
#science
#history
Register here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/eec9de...
The countdown has started 🥁
#medievalsky
#manuscripts
#science
#history
The programme is out 📣
Heritage Science and Manuscripts from Antiquity and the Middle Ages!
A two-day colloquium organised by the #CraftingDocuments project in partnership with the @cmtc-oxford.bsky.social
(We are working on hosting it as a hybrid event. more soon)
Registration info 👇🏼
#medievalsky
Heritage Science and Manuscripts from Antiquity and the Middle Ages!
A two-day colloquium organised by the #CraftingDocuments project in partnership with the @cmtc-oxford.bsky.social
(We are working on hosting it as a hybrid event. more soon)
Registration info 👇🏼
#medievalsky
November 10, 2025 at 11:21 AM
One of our project members, Jessica Hendy-Hodgkinson, will be presenting the results of some of her amazing research here. Do tune in!
Reposted by INSULAR
The programme is out 📣
Heritage Science and Manuscripts from Antiquity and the Middle Ages!
A two-day colloquium organised by the #CraftingDocuments project in partnership with the @cmtc-oxford.bsky.social
(We are working on hosting it as a hybrid event. more soon)
Registration info 👇🏼
#medievalsky
Heritage Science and Manuscripts from Antiquity and the Middle Ages!
A two-day colloquium organised by the #CraftingDocuments project in partnership with the @cmtc-oxford.bsky.social
(We are working on hosting it as a hybrid event. more soon)
Registration info 👇🏼
#medievalsky
October 23, 2025 at 11:57 AM
The programme is out 📣
Heritage Science and Manuscripts from Antiquity and the Middle Ages!
A two-day colloquium organised by the #CraftingDocuments project in partnership with the @cmtc-oxford.bsky.social
(We are working on hosting it as a hybrid event. more soon)
Registration info 👇🏼
#medievalsky
Heritage Science and Manuscripts from Antiquity and the Middle Ages!
A two-day colloquium organised by the #CraftingDocuments project in partnership with the @cmtc-oxford.bsky.social
(We are working on hosting it as a hybrid event. more soon)
Registration info 👇🏼
#medievalsky
Reposted by INSULAR
Our most famous manuscript, available on Parker Library On the Web: tinyurl.com/4a62s8s6
In case you havent noticed, you can have a copy of this too! Download full manuscript pdf directly from the image viewer for you personal enjoyment 📖
We have released all our images with CC BY-NC 4.0 licensing
In case you havent noticed, you can have a copy of this too! Download full manuscript pdf directly from the image viewer for you personal enjoyment 📖
We have released all our images with CC BY-NC 4.0 licensing
October 23, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Our most famous manuscript, available on Parker Library On the Web: tinyurl.com/4a62s8s6
In case you havent noticed, you can have a copy of this too! Download full manuscript pdf directly from the image viewer for you personal enjoyment 📖
We have released all our images with CC BY-NC 4.0 licensing
In case you havent noticed, you can have a copy of this too! Download full manuscript pdf directly from the image viewer for you personal enjoyment 📖
We have released all our images with CC BY-NC 4.0 licensing
Reposted by INSULAR
Next Wednesday 8th October, 12.30-1.30: Jiří Vnouček on "A Tale of Two Parchments" - insular and continental parchment preparation.
In person: @bodleian.ox.ac.uk Weston Library, Lecture Theatre
Or livestreamed.
Free: book here visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/event/oct25/...
In person: @bodleian.ox.ac.uk Weston Library, Lecture Theatre
Or livestreamed.
Free: book here visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/event/oct25/...
A tale of two parchments
In this talk, Dr. Jiří Vnouček discusses differences in species choice and membrane preparation of 'Insular' and 'Continental' parchment used for book-making in the early Middle Ages.
visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk
September 30, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Next Wednesday 8th October, 12.30-1.30: Jiří Vnouček on "A Tale of Two Parchments" - insular and continental parchment preparation.
In person: @bodleian.ox.ac.uk Weston Library, Lecture Theatre
Or livestreamed.
Free: book here visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/event/oct25/...
In person: @bodleian.ox.ac.uk Weston Library, Lecture Theatre
Or livestreamed.
Free: book here visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/event/oct25/...
Here is a controversial - or maybe not so controversial? - #palaeography question: how did this scribe do the rolled tops on ascenders and the letter i?
Was it by pushing the pen up and to the left, then down and to the right?
Or were these additional downward strokes?
Was it by pushing the pen up and to the left, then down and to the right?
Or were these additional downward strokes?
July 21, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Here is a controversial - or maybe not so controversial? - #palaeography question: how did this scribe do the rolled tops on ascenders and the letter i?
Was it by pushing the pen up and to the left, then down and to the right?
Or were these additional downward strokes?
Was it by pushing the pen up and to the left, then down and to the right?
Or were these additional downward strokes?
Reposted by INSULAR
We're hiring for e-codices. The position is modest, but, hopefully it'll be the start of something big.
www.unifr.ch/sp/en/open-p...
www.unifr.ch/sp/en/open-p...
Open positions - Job offers at the University of Fribourg | Human Resources Service | University of Fribourg
www.unifr.ch
July 21, 2025 at 8:30 AM
We're hiring for e-codices. The position is modest, but, hopefully it'll be the start of something big.
www.unifr.ch/sp/en/open-p...
www.unifr.ch/sp/en/open-p...
Reposted by INSULAR
I recently finished cataloging the Arabic-script manuscripts of the National Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Over 750 manuscripts in Arabic, Turkish, Persian, and Bosnian, free to view in the HMML Reading Room
w3id.org/vhmml/readin...
w3id.org/vhmml/readin...
July 18, 2025 at 11:09 PM
I recently finished cataloging the Arabic-script manuscripts of the National Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Over 750 manuscripts in Arabic, Turkish, Persian, and Bosnian, free to view in the HMML Reading Room
w3id.org/vhmml/readin...
w3id.org/vhmml/readin...
Reposted by INSULAR
Congratulations to our Leicester early medieval colleague, Professor Joanna Story (@insularmss.bsky.social), on being elected a Fellow of the British Academy!
The British Academy has elected 92 new Fellows in 2025 – a higher number than in previous years due to new Fellowship places for candidates whose research spans more than one discipline www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/agm-wel...
The British Academy welcomes 92 new Fellows in 2025
92 distinguished scholars have today been elected to the British Academy’s Fellowship, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the humanities and social sciences.
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
July 18, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Congratulations to our Leicester early medieval colleague, Professor Joanna Story (@insularmss.bsky.social), on being elected a Fellow of the British Academy!
Reposted by INSULAR
And marvellous Jo Story @uniofleicester.bsky.social too: fantastic and so well-deserved.
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/fellows/joan...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/fellows/joan...
July 18, 2025 at 11:36 AM
And marvellous Jo Story @uniofleicester.bsky.social too: fantastic and so well-deserved.
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/fellows/joan...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/fellows/joan...
Our PI Prof. Joanna Story is one of the newly elected Fellows! Her work on early medieval Insular sources, including interdisciplinary approaches to text and material culture, continues to break new ground in the INSULAR project.
The lovely time of the year when we announce our newly elected Fellows - a range of extraordinary scholars. Plus four new fantastic Hon Fellows - Lindsey Hilsum, @richove.bsky.social, Lubaina Himid and Judith Weir. Congratulations and welcome!
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/agm-wel...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/agm-wel...
The British Academy welcomes 92 new Fellows in 2025
92 distinguished scholars have today been elected to the British Academy’s Fellowship, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the humanities and social sciences.
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
July 18, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Our PI Prof. Joanna Story is one of the newly elected Fellows! Her work on early medieval Insular sources, including interdisciplinary approaches to text and material culture, continues to break new ground in the INSULAR project.
Reposted by INSULAR
Update on Fragmentology (www.fragmentology.ms ): the journal's back online. Submissions at the moment can be made directly to fragmentarium@unifr.ch. In other news, Wesleyan UL has published their Ege "Oriental" leaves. We're always happy for help decolonizing them. fragmentarium.ms/overview/F-d...
![[F-d720] Anthology of Poetry (Fragment), Middletown, CT, Wesleyan University Library, Z113 .E33 1900z, No. 8.
A manuscript leaf mounted in a frame with a label "Anthology of Poetry". The leaf is in Persian. The caption says (in part) "This work is from a book containing the poems of three hundred poets. The manuscript is in a well-written Nastaliq script. This leaf has small decorative elements and ruled lines of washed gold and color. With amazing skill and perfection each of the fine hairlines in the border is exactly superimposed on the corresponding one of the reverse side, thereby insuring perfect register on both sides of this fine, transparent paper. In the Islamic world, calligraphy was the most important art and examples in this fine Nastaliq script is greatly honored. Beauty was more important than legibility. This script was usually reserved for writing poetry because of its great beauty. This slanting manner of writing gave it the name of hanging writing."
Just to be clear: Admittedly, like the author of the description, I don't read Persian either, but the script seems to me eminently legible. Perhaps I'm just ignorant. If you have an opinion based on experience, please let us know.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:zvhdyvd34yjytldmu6dm3u4b/bafkreiegla66sts3oild6z7ou4tcinl2rckupud66zfkkwpjdlhkqvuyua@jpeg)
July 16, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Update on Fragmentology (www.fragmentology.ms ): the journal's back online. Submissions at the moment can be made directly to fragmentarium@unifr.ch. In other news, Wesleyan UL has published their Ege "Oriental" leaves. We're always happy for help decolonizing them. fragmentarium.ms/overview/F-d...
The deadline for this job is this coming Monday!
There's an exciting new 3-year job in Göttingen (Germany) available as part of our project! www.uni-goettingen.de/en/644546.ht...
We need someone with experience in manuscript studies and early medieval Germanic vernaculars. Digital humanities skills an advantage! Deadline: 14 July. #palaeography
We need someone with experience in manuscript studies and early medieval Germanic vernaculars. Digital humanities skills an advantage! Deadline: 14 July. #palaeography
Stellenanzeigen - Georg-August-University Göttingen
Website of the Georg-August-University Göttingen
www.uni-goettingen.de
July 9, 2025 at 4:17 PM
The deadline for this job is this coming Monday!
Reposted by INSULAR
And more decorated/illuminated letters to download and print and print for free, and then colour in. Good for children in the holidays, teachers who want a bit of a quiet time (!!), and adults who want to spend some time thinking only of what colours to use!
www.patricialovett.com/mediaeval-de...
www.patricialovett.com/mediaeval-de...
July 9, 2025 at 7:16 AM
And more decorated/illuminated letters to download and print and print for free, and then colour in. Good for children in the holidays, teachers who want a bit of a quiet time (!!), and adults who want to spend some time thinking only of what colours to use!
www.patricialovett.com/mediaeval-de...
www.patricialovett.com/mediaeval-de...
There's an exciting new 3-year job in Göttingen (Germany) available as part of our project! www.uni-goettingen.de/en/644546.ht...
We need someone with experience in manuscript studies and early medieval Germanic vernaculars. Digital humanities skills an advantage! Deadline: 14 July. #palaeography
We need someone with experience in manuscript studies and early medieval Germanic vernaculars. Digital humanities skills an advantage! Deadline: 14 July. #palaeography
Stellenanzeigen - Georg-August-University Göttingen
Website of the Georg-August-University Göttingen
www.uni-goettingen.de
June 18, 2025 at 8:01 AM
There's an exciting new 3-year job in Göttingen (Germany) available as part of our project! www.uni-goettingen.de/en/644546.ht...
We need someone with experience in manuscript studies and early medieval Germanic vernaculars. Digital humanities skills an advantage! Deadline: 14 July. #palaeography
We need someone with experience in manuscript studies and early medieval Germanic vernaculars. Digital humanities skills an advantage! Deadline: 14 July. #palaeography
Reposted by INSULAR
🧵 Is this a Dire wolf... 🤔?
No...
Our @erc.europa.eu Beasts to Craft team led by Élodie Lévêque uncovered the true identity of mysterious hairy covers on #medieval #Cistercian #manuscripts - they're ...
👇
No...
Our @erc.europa.eu Beasts to Craft team led by Élodie Lévêque uncovered the true identity of mysterious hairy covers on #medieval #Cistercian #manuscripts - they're ...
👇
April 9, 2025 at 6:04 AM
🧵 Is this a Dire wolf... 🤔?
No...
Our @erc.europa.eu Beasts to Craft team led by Élodie Lévêque uncovered the true identity of mysterious hairy covers on #medieval #Cistercian #manuscripts - they're ...
👇
No...
Our @erc.europa.eu Beasts to Craft team led by Élodie Lévêque uncovered the true identity of mysterious hairy covers on #medieval #Cistercian #manuscripts - they're ...
👇
Reposted by INSULAR
3/5: The brilliance is in the details: neck rings show the calf's age, tension lines reveal stretching techniques, repair stitches identify different craftsmen's work, and even parasites tell us about animal health. Nothing is merely a "flaw" - everything is evidence!
March 7, 2025 at 5:49 PM
3/5: The brilliance is in the details: neck rings show the calf's age, tension lines reveal stretching techniques, repair stitches identify different craftsmen's work, and even parasites tell us about animal health. Nothing is merely a "flaw" - everything is evidence!
Reposted by INSULAR
2/5: What excites me most is how each parchment sheet reveals a complete narrative - from living animal to finished writing surface. The 346 calfskins used across three volumes preserve evidence of medieval animal husbandry, craft techniques, and workshop practices.
March 7, 2025 at 5:49 PM
2/5: What excites me most is how each parchment sheet reveals a complete narrative - from living animal to finished writing surface. The 346 calfskins used across three volumes preserve evidence of medieval animal husbandry, craft techniques, and workshop practices.
Reposted by INSULAR
🧵 1/5: I'm THRILLED to see Jiří Vnouček's paper on the Hamburg Bible's parchment finally published with such stunning illustrations (73 in all)!
This research shows how a careful reading of parchment tells a rich story of its creation.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
This research shows how a careful reading of parchment tells a rich story of its creation.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
March 7, 2025 at 5:49 PM
🧵 1/5: I'm THRILLED to see Jiří Vnouček's paper on the Hamburg Bible's parchment finally published with such stunning illustrations (73 in all)!
This research shows how a careful reading of parchment tells a rich story of its creation.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
This research shows how a careful reading of parchment tells a rich story of its creation.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by INSULAR
📕 I am glad to see that this volume to which your humble narrator contributed is finally out in Open Access. Enjoy!
🔗 punctumbooks.com/titles/the-a...
#medievalsky
🔗 punctumbooks.com/titles/the-a...
#medievalsky
March 5, 2025 at 7:37 AM
📕 I am glad to see that this volume to which your humble narrator contributed is finally out in Open Access. Enjoy!
🔗 punctumbooks.com/titles/the-a...
#medievalsky
🔗 punctumbooks.com/titles/the-a...
#medievalsky
Reposted by INSULAR
Woooohoooo! Blow the trumpets, drum the drums! Just got an advance copy of my new book! Drum those drums and blow trumpets blow, and pop that cork! It’s always exciting!!
February 14, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Woooohoooo! Blow the trumpets, drum the drums! Just got an advance copy of my new book! Drum those drums and blow trumpets blow, and pop that cork! It’s always exciting!!
Reposted by INSULAR
Wie haben professionelle Schreiber im frühen Mittelalter neue Schriften gelernt und miteinander gearbeitet? Unsere Historikerin Anna Dorofeeva vom Institut für #DigitalHumanities untersucht dies an rund 850 Handschriften: www.campuspost.goettingen-campus.de/2025/01/21/a...
January 21, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Wie haben professionelle Schreiber im frühen Mittelalter neue Schriften gelernt und miteinander gearbeitet? Unsere Historikerin Anna Dorofeeva vom Institut für #DigitalHumanities untersucht dies an rund 850 Handschriften: www.campuspost.goettingen-campus.de/2025/01/21/a...
Reposted by INSULAR
Yesterday listened to Prof Joanna Story's fascinating talk (thanks @ghilondon.bsky.social) about @insularmss.bsky.social ERC AdG Project on identifying provenance of Early Medieval insular-style manuscripts with #Biocodicology (protein & aDNA analysis) – much like the Nordic CODICUM ERC Project!
January 29, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Yesterday listened to Prof Joanna Story's fascinating talk (thanks @ghilondon.bsky.social) about @insularmss.bsky.social ERC AdG Project on identifying provenance of Early Medieval insular-style manuscripts with #Biocodicology (protein & aDNA analysis) – much like the Nordic CODICUM ERC Project!
Reposted by INSULAR
A great paper by Jo Story @insularmss.bsky.social at the @ghilondon.bsky.social last night, including a mention of Vienna cod. 15: a sixth-century copy of Livy, owned by an 8th-c. bishop 'of Dorestad'. bibliotheca-laureshamensis-digital.de/view/onb_cod...
January 29, 2025 at 9:08 AM
A great paper by Jo Story @insularmss.bsky.social at the @ghilondon.bsky.social last night, including a mention of Vienna cod. 15: a sixth-century copy of Livy, owned by an 8th-c. bishop 'of Dorestad'. bibliotheca-laureshamensis-digital.de/view/onb_cod...
Reposted by INSULAR
Go and hear our Leicester colleague Jo Story @insularmss.bsky.social talk about insular manuscripts!
Join us in just under two weeks for the first lecture in our GHIL Spring Lecture Series! 📢
On 28 January 2025 at 5:30pm (GMT) Joanna Story (University of Leicester) will talk about 'Insular Manuscripts in Carolingian Francia (in and from Germany)'. 📅
1/5
On 28 January 2025 at 5:30pm (GMT) Joanna Story (University of Leicester) will talk about 'Insular Manuscripts in Carolingian Francia (in and from Germany)'. 📅
1/5
January 27, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Go and hear our Leicester colleague Jo Story @insularmss.bsky.social talk about insular manuscripts!
Reposted by INSULAR
Get your free ticket now to join us in person or via Zoom: www.ghil.ac.uk/event....
#insularmanuscripts #manuscripts #earlymedieval #medievalhistory
5/5
#insularmanuscripts #manuscripts #earlymedieval #medievalhistory
5/5
January 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Get your free ticket now to join us in person or via Zoom: www.ghil.ac.uk/event....
#insularmanuscripts #manuscripts #earlymedieval #medievalhistory
5/5
#insularmanuscripts #manuscripts #earlymedieval #medievalhistory
5/5