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CODICUM at Wild Wednesday
CODICUM at Wild Wednesday
Join us for a unique "Wild Wednesday" session at the Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS), where we bridge the gap between biochemistry and literary history. This event showcases the CODICUM project, an ERC Synergy initiative that explores the intersection of the humanities and natural sciences.
Event Details
Event Details
Date: March 25, 2026
Time: 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Location: DIAS, Syddansk Universitet (SDU)
Title: CODICUM Synergy grant – how biochemistry and pre-modern book history found each other to break new barriers
Target Audience: Open to everyone, including the general public and DIAS affiliates.
Speakers
Speakers
Lars Boje Mortensen: Professor of Literary History, focusing on the intellectual and cultural impact of pre-modern texts.
Matthew Collins: Professor of Biomolecular Archaeology, specialising in the analysis of ancient proteins and DNA.
What to Expect
What to Expect
This session dives into the world of book production before the advent of paper and print (pre-1400/1450). Attendees will have a rare opportunity to see—and potentially handle—a real medieval parchment book and various book fragments provided by the SDU library.
The talk will be divided into two fascinating perspectives:
The Literary Context: Lars will introduce pre-modern books, discussing their significance within intellectual history, specifically focusing on the Nordic context of the CODICUM project.
The Scientific Breakthrough: Matthew will demonstrate how thousand-year-old animal skins serve as a biological archive. He will showcase how DNA analysis and protein profiles, conducted at SDU’s new facility, can reveal the hidden history of these artifacts.
By combining these disciplines, the event highlights the emerging field of “biocodicology,” unravelling new patterns in book history and intellectual networks.
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