26-12-2021, 10:05 PM
In a thread about Biocodicology, the following idea occurred to me:
The Mc Crone Institute studied the ink in the VMS in 2009. It was found that Glair (eggwhite) was used for clear or the color white. It was used in the headdress of bather on folio 78r ( clear, not white ) and a face on folio 70v ( see table in the report ). Thus, inks containing protein were used which are hardly contaminated, i.e. they were only mixed with calcium carbonate but not processed in any other way (in contrast to the parchment).
Samples of these inks could help determine the origin of the chicken and thus the ink itself if the ovalbumin (OVA) is sufficient to determine the exact species ( that would be the first and most important question, does it differ from sub species to sub species ?). The protein sequence of chicken ovalbumin was fully elucidated in 1981 [2].
The Red junglefowl ( gallus gallus ) is the ancestor of all domestic chickens existing today ( Wikipedia ). The variations in late medieval times were locally different. The DNA of chicken bones from archaeological excavations could be used for comparison. These are found worldwide ( for example also in my neighboring town ) in large numbers.
From the 15th century onwards breeding of chickens has been demonstrably started, which facilitates the differentiation according to local sites.
[1] Benecke, N. Der Mensch und seine Haustiere, Theiss, 1994
[2] A. D. Nisbet, R. H. Saundry u. a.: The complete amino-acid sequence of hen ovalbumin. In: European Journal of Biochemistry / FEBS. Band 115, Nummer 2, April 1981, S. 335–345, doi:10.1111/j.1432-1033.1981.tb05243.x (free Fulltext). PMID 7016535.
My question now is whether this idea is plausible and considered feasible or ( justified ) why not.
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The Mc Crone Institute studied the ink in the VMS in 2009. It was found that Glair (eggwhite) was used for clear or the color white. It was used in the headdress of bather on folio 78r ( clear, not white ) and a face on folio 70v ( see table in the report ). Thus, inks containing protein were used which are hardly contaminated, i.e. they were only mixed with calcium carbonate but not processed in any other way (in contrast to the parchment).
Samples of these inks could help determine the origin of the chicken and thus the ink itself if the ovalbumin (OVA) is sufficient to determine the exact species ( that would be the first and most important question, does it differ from sub species to sub species ?). The protein sequence of chicken ovalbumin was fully elucidated in 1981 [2].
The Red junglefowl ( gallus gallus ) is the ancestor of all domestic chickens existing today ( Wikipedia ). The variations in late medieval times were locally different. The DNA of chicken bones from archaeological excavations could be used for comparison. These are found worldwide ( for example also in my neighboring town ) in large numbers.
From the 15th century onwards breeding of chickens has been demonstrably started, which facilitates the differentiation according to local sites.
Quote:Benecke (1994: 370-372)[1] proves that chickens definitely became larger as well as more different in shape and color from the late Middle Ages on. From about the 15th century, there are first indications of incipient breeding. In the Middle Ages, the animals can be divided according to the construction of the skeleton into small chickens similar to today's bantams and heavier chickens such as Leghorn or Italian. Chicken breeds or different types of chickens that emerged in the late Middle Ages are the origin of some breeds still living today ....
[1] Benecke, N. Der Mensch und seine Haustiere, Theiss, 1994
[2] A. D. Nisbet, R. H. Saundry u. a.: The complete amino-acid sequence of hen ovalbumin. In: European Journal of Biochemistry / FEBS. Band 115, Nummer 2, April 1981, S. 335–345, doi:10.1111/j.1432-1033.1981.tb05243.x (free Fulltext). PMID 7016535.
My question now is whether this idea is plausible and considered feasible or ( justified ) why not.
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.