Oldest fragment of a book from the 3rd century v. found
06/22/2023 11:32 am (act. 06/22/2023 11:40 am)
The fragment shows traces of a connection ©APA/UNI GRAZ
The oldest known fragment of a book in codex form is believed to have been discovered by researchers at the University of Graz: they referred to a papyrus fragment from the 3rd century. vaC, showing traces of binding. This indicates that it was part of a book. The oldest known evidence of binding in book form dates back to about 400 years later. The fragment belongs to the collection of the Graz University Library and was presented on Thursday.
Book restorer Theresa Zammit Lupi showed on Thursday a piece of papyrus measuring 15 x 25 centimeters, which can be used to correct the history of the textual tradition – and especially the history of the book. It could be the remains of a notebook from the 3rd century BC. A piece of string gave the restorer the clue that it might be a fragment of a book.
The book restorer was delighted to hold the piece from the special collection of the University of Graz in her hands for the first time during her routine work in May, as she explains: “First I saw a piece of thread, only later did I notice the shape of a book. I saw a center fold, the staple holes and the text written within clearly defined margins on the papyrus. As a conservator, it is very special when you are faced with such a discovery and can contribute a building block in the history of the book. At first glance view, you might just not believe it,” Zammit Lupi said on Thursday, still emotional.
Until now, it was assumed that the book form arose in the second century of the Christian era. According to the Graz experts, the oldest evidence of binding in book form dates to between 150 and 250 AD and is stored in the British Library and Chester Beatty Library in Dublin. “The Graz mummy book was created 400 years earlier and is therefore still the oldest surviving form of a book that we know of,” emphasized Erich Renhart, head of special collections at the Graz University Library at the presentation on Thursday. .
The papyrus fragment was discovered over 100 years ago during an excavation at the Egyptian necropolis of Hibeh (today El Hiba) south of El-Fayoum. When it was found, it covered a mummy in an Egyptian sarcophagus. It has been at the University of Graz since 1904 and is part of a collection of 52 papyri from the Ptolemaic period (350 – 30 BC).
According to archaeologists who published the find as early as 1906, it was originally a double page of a notebook in which around 260 BC BC bills for taxes on beer and oil were recorded in Greek. The dating was based on the location of the find, the paleography and iconography of the mummy. Also the colors and style of the decoration, as well as the writing style of the text, would fit the end of the Ptolemaic period. From the point of view of the Graz researchers, there are many indications that books in codex form already existed in Ptomemeic times – and that the oldest known fragment of this type is in Graz.
Now everyone is looking forward to the discussion in the expert community: “This autumn we will invite international experts to a conference in Graz to discuss the book fragment and the new knowledge gained from it”, announced Erich Renhart, scientific director of the special collection of the University Library of Graz and director of the research center Vestigia. “The story at the beginning of the book will be reconsidered,” Renhart said with conviction. “Thanks to the competence of the special collections team at the University Library Graz, a new look at digitized objects that have been known for a long time has led to new insights”, emphasized Pamela Stückler, Director of the University Library Graz.
“The discovery will change the way we look at fragments”, Theresa Zammit Lupi was also convinced. She studied Art History at the University of Malta and Book and Paper Conservation in Florence and London. In 2009 she received her PhD from the University of the Arts London in the field of manuscript restoration. In 2017, she was a research fellow at Harvard University. Zammit Lupi has worked in Malta, Italy, UK, Switzerland, Egypt and Ethiopia and has taught conservation and codicology in several countries. Since 2021 she is the main restorer of the special collections of the University Library of the University of Graz.
With more than four million media, the University of Graz library is the third largest library in Austria. In 2019 it was extensively expanded and modernized. The special collections of the Graz University Library preserve much of the written heritage of the Duchy of Styria, as well as other valuable properties. With around 300,000 objects, they are – after the National Library – the second largest collection of their kind in Austria.
The Graz University Library Special Collections is recognized as a center of competence for the digitization and restoration of valuable manuscripts and books: Technology developed in Graz for the careful digitization of valuable collections is used by Harvard University and the British Library, among others. Linked to the special collections is the VESTIGIA – Research Center for Book and Writing Heritage, which is dedicated to the scientific development of ancient writings. This includes holdings at the University of Graz, as well as previously unknown or inaccessible collections, especially from southern and eastern Europe. Collections are registered, restored, conserved, digitized and edited in order to make them accessible for future research.
Theresa Zammit Lupi studied art history at the University of Malta, then book and paper restoration in Florence and London. In 2009 she received her PhD from the University of the Arts London in the field of manuscript restoration. In 2017, she received a research grant at Harvard University focusing on illustrated Renaissance manuscripts. Theresa Zammit Lupi has worked in Malta, Italy, UK, Switzerland, Egypt and Ethiopia and has taught conservation and codicology in several countries. Since 2021 she works at the University of Graz in the special collections of the University Library as a senior restorer. She is the author of several scientific articles and books in this area. Theresa Zammit Lupi is also an accredited member of the UK Institute of Conservation and a member of the VÖB, Association of Austrian Librarians.
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