Narrating codex history: the case study of a psalter-hymnal from Alcobaça Monastery, Portugal

A twelfth-century psalter-hymnal from Alcobaça Monastery, Portugal, has been confirmed as originating from the monastery's scriptorium through multidisciplinary analysis. This study, combining textual, liturgical, codicological, and material composition analyses, traced the manuscript's historical trajectory, revealing successive additions and interventions that underscore its significant role in the Cistercian monastery during the Middle Ages and beyond. The findings highlight the monks' intensive use of this precious codex and their meticulous care in preserving it, providing crucial insights for future digital access policies and conservation efforts.

Casanova, C., Rodrigues, S. A., Barreira, C. F., Miguel, C., Quilhó, T., & Tourais, A. S. (2022). Narrating codex history: the case study of a psalter-hymnal from Alcobaça Monastery, Portugal. Journal of Medieval Iberian Studies, 14(1), 127–141. https://doi.org/10.1080/17546559.2021.2021590