The Integration of Metagenomics and Chemical Physical Techniques Biodecoded the Buried Traces of the Biodeteriogens of Parchment Purple Spots

Artefact Profiling: Panomics Approaches for Understanding the Materiality of Written Artefacts

This review explains the strategies behind genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, metallomics and isotopolomics approaches and their applicability to written artefacts. The respective sub-chapters give an insight into the analytical procedure and the conclusions drawn from such analyses. A distinction is made between information that can be obtained from the materials used in the respective manuscript and meta-information that cannot be obtained from the manuscript itself, but from residues of organisms such as bacteria or the authors and readers. In addition, various sampling techniques are discussed in particular, which pose a special challenge in manuscripts. The focus is on high-resolution, non-targeted strategies that can be used to extract the maximum amount of information about ancient objects. The combination of the various omics disciplines (panomics) especially offers potential added value in terms of the best possible interpretations of the data received. The information obtained can be used to understand the production of ancient artefacts, to gain impressions of former living conditions, to prove their authenticity, to assess whether there is a toxic hazard in handling the manuscripts, and to be able to determine appropriate measures for their conservation and restoration.

Non-Invasive Physico-Chemical and Biological Analysis of Parchment Manuscripts – An Overview

This work will give an overview of the scientific approach used for the study of written heritage on parchment. Elemental analysis using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) together with compound-specific analytical methods such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy can be applied in a non-invasive way, without the need for sampling and without inducing changes to the object. Physico-chemical investigations are complemented and further deepened by DNA- and biological analyses for the identification of the biological origin of materials and the identification of microorganisms, insects and viruses that might be present on the object which may add valuable information about its history and conservation state.