My impression is that parchment size was used as a binder in northern
Europe, rather than
using an alternative gum - but this applies to the middle ages.
It would be so useful if they did get it analysed - encourage them to do
so. I've just been reading the analyses in Michelle Brown's book on the
Lindisfarne Gospels - pretty well the next surviving British writing after
Vindolanda - but I think they're mainly concerned with colours, not
writing ink. Loads of work to be done in this field. I look forward to
hearing more.
All best
Debby
On Thu, 12 Jun 2003, Mark Nesbitt wrote:
> Another tricky enquiry: we have been asked about possible
> constituents of the ink used on the Roman Vindolanda writing
> tablets, found in northern England. According to our enquirer, the
> ink in question has not been analysed.
>
> Roman ink was usually made from carbon black in a gum arabic
> (Acacia) solution (oak gall ink comes much later). The question is
> whether, rather than importing gum arabic from Arabia/N Africa, a
> local substitute might have been used.
>
> Most soluble gums come from hotter countries, but I have found
> references to a more or less soluble gum from Prunus trees in
> temperate Europe. Does anyone have any thoughts on this or
> other northern European gums for this kind of use?
>
> Mark
>
> *********************************
> Dr Mark Nesbitt
> Centre for Economic Botany
> Royal Botanic Gardens
> Kew
> Richmond
> Surrey
> TW9 3AE
> UK
>
> Tel (direct): +44 (0)20 8332 5719
> Tel (central):+44 (0)20 8332 5197
> Fax: +44 (0)20 8332 5768
> www: http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/scihort/ecbot.html
> Economic Botany Links:
> http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/scihort/eblinks/
>
|