Overview
WP2 combines research, training, dissemination and networking, and includes a number of disciplines, especially manuscript studies, philology, Latin, curating and conservation, digital humanities, history, as well as, through new methodologies taken from the fields of Heritage Science, chemistry, biology and physics.
The specific focus of WP2 are the scribes of medieval European manuscripts. Often very little is known on them – many remain anonymous, other only reveal their name but nothing else. In some cases, however, more information can be recovered. Building a complex database on medieval scribes and their production allowing for a comparative analysis of their activities and strategies is the main goal of WP2.
WP2 builds on synergy with other ongoing projects: HiPS (Hidden in Plain Sight at QMUL, https://projects.history.qmul.ac.uk/inplainsight/news, PI Eyal Poleg) THEEND (Innovation and Inertia: The End of Medieval Scribes, ERC.cz grant), DOPOWIN (Done. Pour the Wine.” Colophons and Scribal Additions in Medieval Manuscripts kept in Czechia, Czech Science Foundation grant, both at CU, with the PI of both L. Doležalová, for both see https://scribes.ff.cuni.cz), and ScribeID AI (interdisciplinary project at KLN employing an active machine learning approach in identifying scribal hands, PI M. Haltrich). WP2 will use all of them but will move substantially beyond their scope.
The WP2’s main objectives are shared with other WPs:
- O1 Cutting-edge interdisciplinary research into written cultural heritage. Exploring and applying new methods on research of medieval scribes and their copies. Creating a pan-European database of scribes, their colophons, and copies for comparative analysis.
- O2 Training for early career researchers. Providing a series of expert interdisciplinary training events combining manuscript studies with digital humanities and curatorial practices.
- O3 Dissemination to wider public. Raising public awareness of the importance of medieval written heritage. Making public engaged and able to approach these sources.
- O4 Networking, interconnections, international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Tasks
T2.1 Research (O1)
Exploring medieval scribes through their own writings as well as other sources on them. Transforming two so far local databases into substantial European endeavours, making them pivotal in their field. Producing cutting edge open access scientific publications.
D8 Database of medieval scribes and colophons (OA, M48 – see description in the deliverable)
T2.2 Training (O2; D2.4, D2.5)
Providing interdisciplinary innovative training to early career researchers, namely:
Training early career researchers – Hackathon I (Cam, M07). The first Cambridge training will focus on scribal colophons and additions. It will be delivered by UCam and QMUL experts in manuscript studies and digital humanities in collaboration with other PAMELA partners. Seconded participants will have the opportunity to conduct manuscript research in Cambridge libraries culminating in an intensive workshop collectively developing prototype digital resources which explore the online presentation of scribal colophons and additions to a wider public.
Training early career researchers – Hackathon IV (Cam, M43). The final Cambridge training will focus on medieval scribes. It will be delivered by Cam and QMUL experts in manuscript studies and digital humanities in collaboration with other PAMELA partners. Seconded participants will have the opportunity to conduct manuscript research in Cambridge libraries culminating in an intensive workshop collectively developing prototype digital resources which explore the online presentation of information about medieval scribes to a wider audience.
T2.3 Dissemination (O3)
Overseas team stays based on networking, local interactions, workshops and research.
D9 Prague exhibition on medieval scribes (NKP, M24 – see description in the deliverable)
Otsuma: Scribes dissemination and outreach (Tok, M32). The Otsuma dissemination will enable a team of early career researchers with several supervisors to conduct research dissemination activities in a very different cultural environment. Activities will take place that will include less advanced local students and result in creating materials suitable for raising awareness of European medieval scribal culture overseas. The challenge is intentional: the incoming team should be encouraged to think outside the box and focus on making intercultural connections in order to show the relevance of the studied materials. The host institution will provide networking opportunities with the local staff, as well as ancient-medieval East Asian calligraphy and palaeography workshop.
Macquarie: Scribes dissemination and outreach (Macquarie, M38). The dissemination event will build on the local resources and, combining the local papyrology collection with the incoming expertise in Latin manuscripts, interactive outputs will be created linking the two.
CONICET: Scribes dissemination and outreach (CONICET, M46). The dissemination and communication will present yet another challenge of showing the relevance of PAMELA’s research results in a different environment: this time a general medievalist setting – i.e. researchers interested in the Middle Ages but with very limited access to actual medieval manuscripts. The task will be to create such OA results that will manage to transfer and explain the actual process of manuscript creation and research as efficiently as possible. The deliverable might be divided into 2–3 events during PAMELA’s implementation, so as not to overwhelm the host.
Fulfilling objective O4 is part of every task (T2.1–3). For the roles of beneficiaries and associated partners, see the Deliverables below.
Deliverables
- D2.1 – Database of medieval scribes and colophons
- D2.2 – Prague exhibition on medieval scribes