[Conference] Voynich Zoom CFP

[proto57]

For example, the Vinland Map was determined to be a modern forgery because of the high amount of titanium in the ink (MUCH more than the small traces found in some of the VMS samples). 

Not to split more hairs, but this statement is not really accurate. 

Barabe made clear that there was actually MORE than "trace" amounts of titanium in (some of) the VMS samples.  It was not the quantity that differentiates the Vinland Map test results and those of the VMS. It was the specific form of the crystals that revealed it as Titanium anatase -- the form of Titanium dioxide that did not become commercially available till around 1920.

Yes and to add, we still do not know the level... but as asteckley points out, he specifically did not describe the amount of titanium in the Voynich as "trace", but even used the term "fair amount". That sounds like more than "trace". And I also agree with asteckley, and was going to point out the same thing as he just did (beat me to it!)... that while the Vinland ink did, yes, have a far higher amount of ti... and while that amount, alone, would have been cause for concerns... it was the modern, manufactured form of the titanium anatase... the smooth crystals of it... which demonstrated it was a post-1920 (or so, date varies, as it was invented in 1912 to 1917 or so) manufactured product.

So the questions still remain: Which form of Titanium is in the Voynich? Ilmenite, Rutile, Anatase, or other? Each has a different implication, and some of thes might be highly useful to determining the actual age and place of creation of the Voynich. We should know. Also, what is the specific level, described by Mr. Barabe as a "fair amount", in comparison to other Medieval and other inks? In this chart, for instance:

   

Professor Richard Hark shows low levels of titanium in 120 samples from 50 Medieval manuscripts. But in one or two samples, the levels of titanium rise above that "baseline" of a 0.5 XRF Signal. My questions have been:

1) Where, on that chart, would the amounts of titanium found by Barabe in the Voynich manuscript, fall? Would they also be in Hark's baseline? Would they be in the line above? Would they be higher?

2) Is it possible that those higher containing samples WERE the actual Voynich?

I've asked these very important, and I think definitive questions of Professor Hark, in three separate emails over last summer. Unfortunately I have not yet heard back. Lisa, I'm sure you know the professor... if you have a chance, could you run these questions by him? The answers may go far to clear up this matter, so we no longer have to guess at things like whether the Voynich titanium is "trace" or not, and just how all these finding compare.

Unless and until we have these answers, it would be incorrect and misleading to either dismiss the presence of titanium in the Voynich ink, or consider it a problem, either.

Rich