parchment

Ingredients

animal skin, lime, chalk

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The writing support is parchment made from animal skin. FTIR analysis of the surface revealed peaks at ~1660 cm-1 (Amide I), ~1540 cm-1 (Amide II), and ~1235 cm-1 (Amide III) (p. 8). A specific peak at 869 cm-1, present only on the flesh side, is attributed to calcium carbonates (likely calcite), indicating a surface treatment with lime or chalk (p. 8). This treatment was likely intended to make the flesh side surface more homogenous and similar to the hair side (p. 8).

Evidence

"The Münster fragments are the remains of three Qurʾānic leaves on parchment... The presence of carbonates exclusively on one side of parchment hints towards a surface treatment of lime or chalk for the preparation of the flesh side only."

Remarks

Radiocarbon dating of fragment Hs. 15c yielded a date range of 666 to 774 CE (95.4% probability), which aligns with the historical Umayyad period (p. 10). The original leaves were large, measuring approximately 45 x 38.5 cm, and were likely produced for use on monumental reading stands (p. 2, 3). Significant ink corrosion is noted, particularly where the vitriolic ink interacted with the parchment on the flesh side (p. 3, 4).