Bible Study: Ancient Jewish Manuscript Analyzed Using State-of-the-Art Cameras

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State-of-the-art imaging technology has been used to analyze an ancient Jewish manuscript and reveal how it was torn down and repaired over time.

Researchers from Romania used different parts of the light spectra to uncover the hidden history of the scroll, which contains chapters from the Hebrew Bible.

The findings can help conservators understand how best to restore the artifact – using appropriate materials and, if necessary, undoing previous repair efforts.

State-of-the-art imaging technology has been used to analyze an ancient Jewish manuscript and reveal how it was torn down and repaired over time. Pictured, a series of images of the scroll, showing different types of degradation that affected the old document

State-of-the-art imaging technology has been used to analyze an ancient Jewish manuscript and reveal how it was torn down and repaired over time. Pictured, a series of images of the scroll, showing different types of degradation that affected the old document

THE BOOK OF ESTHER

The scroll contains chapters from the Hebrew Bible book of Esther.

This book is one of the five scrolls – or ‘Megillot’ – in the Jewish Bible.

It tells the story of a Hebrew woman in Persia – the titular Esther – who becomes the queen of Persia.

She goes on to thwart a planned genocide of the Jewish people.

The story is held the key to the Purim festival, where it is recited twice.

“The purpose of the study was to understand what the passage of time brought to the object, how it was affected and what would be the best approach for the future conservation process,” said paper author and physicist Luminita Ghervase.

A combination of imaging techniques was used on the privately owned sacred scroll — which contained several chapters of the Hebrew Bible’s book of Esther, but was in bad shape.

“The use of complementary research techniques may shed light on the unknown history of such an object,” added Dr. Ghervase, who is from the Romanian National Institute for Research and Development in Optoelectronics.

‘For several years now, non-invasive, non-destructive research techniques have been the first choice when examining cultural heritage objects, in order to comply with one of the most important rules of conservation practice, which is not to harm the object.

Multispectral imaging – which uses different wavelength ranges from across the electromagnetic spectrum – normally revealed invisible details about the wear of the manuscript.

A dark spot appeared on the roll when viewed with ultraviolet light, suggesting that the document had been repaired in the past with an organic material such as resin.

The researchers then used so-called hyperspectral imaging – which gathers information about each pixel of the image from the full spectrum – to analyze the material composition of the ink on the parchment paper.

Two different types of ink were detected – providing further evidence suggesting someone had previously repaired the roller.

Next, the researchers used a computer algorithm to break down the nature of the materials in the scroll even further.

Researchers from Romania used different parts of the light spectra to uncover the hidden history of the scroll, which contains chapters from the Hebrew Bible. Pictured, the scroll seen through different wavelengths of light, from visible (left) to near infrared (right)

Researchers from Romania used different parts of the light spectra to uncover the hidden history of the scroll, which contains chapters from the Hebrew Bible. Pictured, the scroll seen through different wavelengths of light, from visible (left) to near infrared (right)

“The algorithm used to classify materials can be used to identify traces of the ink to infer the possible original shape of the letters,” explains Dr. Ghervase.

The scroll was then exposed to an imaging technique known as X-ray fluorescence to identify the chemicals used in both the ink and the manufacture of the parchment paper.

Rich concentrations of zinc were discovered in the scroll. This metal has often been linked to bleaching processes, but its presence can also be a sign of past recovery.

Finally, the team used a so-called Fourier transform infrared spectrometer to study how some of the chemicals in the scroll had changed over time.

The findings can help conservators understand how best to restore the artifact - using appropriate materials and, if necessary, undoing previous repair efforts. Shown: the front (top) and back (bottom) of the manuscript as viewed by ultraviolet fluorescence research

The findings can help conservators understand how best to restore the artifact – using appropriate materials and, if necessary, undoing previous repair efforts. Shown: the front (top) and back (bottom) of the manuscript as viewed by ultraviolet fluorescence research

The researchers were able to determine how quickly the scroll deteriorated by looking at the amount of collagen, which is made from animal skin.

By combining these techniques, professionals can restore ancient pieces of history to their former glory.

“They can wisely decide whether inappropriate material has been used and whether such materials should be disposed of,” said Dr. Ghervase.

“In addition, conservators can choose the most suitable materials to restore and preserve the object, thereby excluding potentially incompatible materials.”

The full findings of the study are published in the journal Frontiers in Materials.

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