Long-forgotten fragments of medieval history are emerging from an unlikely source: ancient parchments that were scraped clean and reused centuries ago in Iceland. These recycled manuscripts are revealing new insights into the island’s rich cultural connections with medieval Europe.
Published in Gripla | Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
In medieval Iceland, where valuable calfskin parchment was scarce but the desire to write was strong, scribes often recycled old manuscripts by scraping away their original text to make room for new works. These reused parchments, known as palimpsests, have become unexpected time capsules preserving fragments of Iceland’s forgotten Latin literary heritage.
Tom Lorenz, a PhD research fellow at NTNU’s Department of Language and Literature, is piecing together these hidden historical traces. His research challenges older views of medieval Iceland as an isolated culture. “Previously, the theory was that Iceland was so dark and barren that the Icelanders had to fill their lives with storytelling and poetry to compensate for this. But Icelanders were certainly part of Europe and had a lot of contact with Britain, Germany, Denmark and Norway, among others,” said Lorenz.
What makes Iceland’s palimpsests particularly special is their use in early printed books – a practice not found elsewhere in medieval Europe. This unique recycling method emerged after the Reformation, when Latin religious texts were scraped away to make room for works in Icelandic, the everyday language promoted by Protestant reformers.
The research has uncovered previously unknown Latin fragments containing hymns, prayers, sermons, hagiographies and church music. “These new discoveries contribute to greater knowledge about which theological and liturgical texts were in circulation in medieval Iceland. The texts show that medieval Icelanders followed and participated in European intellectual culture,” Lorenz explained.
The detective work involves examining barely visible traces of original text that sometimes shine through the newer writing. While modern techniques like infrared imaging can help reveal these hidden words, many fragments are surprisingly readable with the naked eye. Each recovered text adds another piece to our understanding of medieval Iceland’s vibrant intellectual life.
This work builds on a complex history of manuscript preservation. From the 17th century onward, Danish authorities worked to collect Iceland’s medieval documents, with the archivist Árni Magnússon gathering an extensive collection that is now recognized by UNESCO. However, Magnússon’s focus on Old Norse texts meant many Latin manuscripts were repurposed as book covers, their contents largely forgotten until now.
Glossary:
- Palimpsest: A manuscript page where the original text has been scraped off so the parchment can be reused for new writing
- Vellum: High-quality parchment made specifically from calfskin, requiring dozens of calves to create enough material for a single book
- Hagiography: Religious writing that tells the life story of saints or venerated persons
Test Your Knowledge
Why did medieval Icelanders reuse parchments?
Because parchment was an expensive and scarce resource in Iceland, while the demand for writing materials was high.
What makes Iceland’s palimpsests unique in European history?
Iceland is the only place where palimpsests were used for printed books, not just handwritten manuscripts.
What historical event led to many Latin texts being scraped away?
The Protestant Reformation (1537-1550) led to Latin religious texts being replaced with works in Icelandic, the common language.
How did Árni Magnússon’s collection priorities affect the preservation of Latin manuscripts?
His focus on collecting Old Norse texts meant many Latin manuscripts were repurposed as book covers, leading to the loss of their original content.
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