Specialist Training in Papyrus Conservation at Heidelberg

Alice Evans · Lindsay McPherson

In February 2026 Alice Evans and Lindsay McPherson, conservators at the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, UK, travelled to Ruprecht-Karls Universität Heidelberg, Germany, as part of the PAMELA project to undertake specialist training in papyrus conservation. Here they share details from their secondment and how this experience will inform their own work on the papyri collections at the Bodleian Libraries.

We are a paper and a book conservator based at the Weston Library, one of 23 libraries that comprise the Bodleian Libraries. The Weston is home to over a million special collection items which encompass a wide variety of collection material from Herculaneum papyri scrolls to contemporary artists’ books. And whilst our work is typically focussed on the care and treatment of objects made of paper, parchment and leather, we also treat objects made of a wide range of other materials including textiles, palm leaves, metals and papyrus.

The Bodleian holds a significant collection of Greek papyri, many of which is already mounted and glazed. However, a portion of the collection is currently unglazed and, therefore are not easily accessible for researchers wishing to study their contents. As part of the PAMELA project, we will be working on this part of the Greek papyrus collection with the aim of rehousing it in glass frames to match the rest of the collection. As the conservation of papyrus is a specialist field, we will first undertake further training to broaden our experience and understanding of papyrus conservation and related collection care and the approaches taken at different institutions.

This has begun with a two week visit to the Institut für Papyrologie at Heidelberg University in February where we spent time with their team of papyrologists and a papyrus restorer learning how their collection is used and cared for. Our visit started with a collection overview led by Dr. Julia Lougovaya-Ast, who showed us some of the treasures from their collection including Greek, Coptic, Arabic and Hebrew papyri as well as texts on paper and parchment.

A conservator examining glazed Greek papyri laid out on a table during the collection overview
Figure 1. Collection overview on our first day at the Institute.

Once fully introduced to the collection, the rest of our time was spent working with Elke Fuchs, the Institute’s papyrus restorer. Together we explored various treatment options, digitisation methods and approaches to storage and housing of papyri fragments.

The Institute has a collection of uncatalogued papyrus fragments that are still in a near ‘post-excavation state’ and it was these that we undertook practical work on. With Elke taking us through her treatment methodology, which used techniques familiar to us including humidification, flattening and fibre re-alignment. As the collections at the Bodleian do not include material in this condition, this was an incredibly valuable opportunity for us both.

A crumpled papyrus fragment with a scale bar, before treatment
The papyrus fragment during treatment, held flat with small fabric weights
The papyrus fragment after treatment, flattened and legible
Figures 2–4. An example of a fragment worked on during our time in Heidelberg; before (figure 2), during (figure 3) and after (figure 4).

It enabled us to observe how the papyrus reacted to various treatments, adding to our understanding and appreciation of the materiality of papyrus.

A box of loose, uncatalogued papyrus fragments
Figure 5. A box of papyrus fragments, which we worked on.

Discussing tools is always a highlight of conservation training opportunities, especially when you come across new uses for things you are already familiar with.

For our trip to Heidelberg, we brought a range of tools with us, including silicone tipped pastel shapers which are often used during the consolidation of pigments. Much to our excitement, they turned out to be perfect for gently holding papyrus fibres in place as we worked on the fragments (as you can see in figure 6), which was also a new trick for the Heidelberg team.

A conservator wearing a magnifier visor, realigning papyrus fibres with a fine tool
Figure 6. Practicing fibre realignment using a silicon tipped pastel shader.

We were also delighted to see Elke’s variety of tiny weights, which were just big enough to hold the papyrus in place while working on it, but not too heavy to crush or damage them. Hearing all of Elke’s methods and tips that she has developed over many years of working with this material has sparked a lot of ideas for us, especially around the use of tools and equipment we can use and adapt back at the Bodleian conservation studio.

Three small handmade fabric weights
Figure 7. Tiny weights.

This secondment has been a unique opportunity to gain practical experience of working with papyrus in a format and condition not present within the Bodleian’s collections and one which will directly feed into our own research and practice in this area of highly specialised conservation. Now we are back in Oxford we will be able to share our new skills with our conservation colleagues here at the library and move forward with our plans for the treatment and re-housing of the Bodleian’s unglazed papyri collections.

Images © Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *