New Scientific Methods in Unfolding the Afterlife of Sacred Books

The Digital Humanities Research Group warmly invites you to their upcoming seminar:

Hidden in Plain Sight: Historical and Scientific Analysis of Premodern Sacred Books is a major research project generously funded by the UK’s Art and Humanities Research Council. It brings together historians, scientists, technicians, curators and conservators to develop new methodologies in the study of premodern books. Innovative technical analyses have been employed by conservators and art historians. These, however, are less common among book historians and manuscript specialists. This project employs a range of innovative technologies, such as Micro-CT scanning, Xray Fluorescence, microscopy, complex imaging or aDNA analysis, to explore how readers and users have engaged with their books.

Professor Eyal Poleg (QMUL) will present two test-cases for the use of new technologies: the analysis of erasures in devotional manuscripts and the study of a binding found on the Thames foreshore.

This is a hybrid event. To register to attend (either in person or online) please complete this form.

About the speaker:

Eyal Poleg is a historian of objects and faith. He is Professor of Material History at Queen Mary University of London and the Principal Investigator of the major AHRC research project, Hidden in Plain Sight. This project brings together historians, scientists, curators and conservators in developing new technologies for studying historical books and objects. It employs a range of technologies, from micro-CT scanning to aDNA analysis, to learn how books and amulets were used, mutilated and worshipped. His previous work has explored the ways objects can inform us on the history of medieval and early modern religion, unfolding the complex place of the Bible in medieval and early modern England.