cPI Åslaug Ommundsen to give talk about “Parchment and Pixels” in Reykjavik on 13 November

November 10, 2025

On 13 November, Professor Åslaug Ommundsen will deliver the Árna Magnússon Lecture with the talk “Parchment and Pixels: Re-examining Written Cultural Heritage.”

Ommundsen will showcase how CODICUM combines tradition and technology to uncover the secrets of medieval written heritage. She will shed light on how fragment studies are evolving in two exciting directions:

• Natural sciences will open new insights into the material aspects of medieval books through protein and DNA analysis.

• Digital technology will provide innovative tools for analysis and accessibility.

The lecture will illustrate these developments through two fragmentary Latin liturgical books copied by Icelandic scribes, showing how interdisciplinary approaches will transform our understanding of Nordic manuscript culture.

• Read more about the event here: Árna Magnússonar fyrirlestur – Åslaug Ommundsen

The event will be held in English and is open to all. 

Sampling has started in Finland

October 29, 2025

The CODICUM project has officially begun sampling medieval parchment fragments in Helsinki, Finland. 

“The Helsinki fragment collection is the second-largest on the globe, but - thanks to earlier scholarly work on it – it’s quite possibly the most straight-forward collection to work with”, says PI Tuomas Heikkilä.

CODICUM aims to learn where the parchment came from, how it was made, and what it reveals about the people who created and used it.

Blending molecular science with historical research

The team uses advanced techniques like ZooMS (Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry) and ancient DNA analysis, and can identify the animal species used for parchment and trace trade routes, craft traditions, and cultural connections across medieval Europe. 

“Each sample we take is a conversation with time itself,” says Heikillä. 

“It’s a chance to listen to the hidden biological stories inscribed in the fabric of our written heritage.”

By blending molecular science with historical research, CODICUM is opening new ways to read the past through ink, protein, and DNA.

“I find it deeply moving that entire histories of cultures, communities, and long-dead people and animals emerge from the tiny parchment samples we analyse. The thought is almost dizzying”, says Heikkilä. 

First CODICUM Dataset Published

October 13, 2025

The CODICUM project has released its first dataset which is now openly available on Zenodo. 

This dataset, titled Medeltida pergamentomslag (“Medieval Parchment Covers”), contains descriptive metadata for medieval manuscript fragments preserved primarily in the Swedish National Archives. It will be updated periodically as new fragments are discovered and catalogued.

The dataset provides insights into the origin, content, and physical characteristics of fragments. It’s intended for scholars within the CODICUM project and researchers with similar interests in paleography, codicology, and medieval studies. 

This release represents the Swedish contribution to the broader Nordic puzzle. Over the coming years, similar datasets from Finland, Norway, and Denmark will follow. Future releases will make it easier for researchers to work across institutions and countries to study medieval fragments and lost books.

• The dataset is published under an open license and can be cited using its DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17287665  

Tuomas Heikkilä to speak at 'Tiedematinea' event hosted by the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters in Helsinki

September 29, 2025

On 22 October 2025, CODICUM PI Tuomas Heikkilä will speak at the Tiedematinea ("Science Matinée") hosted by the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters.

Attendees will experience a behind-the-scenes look at CODICUM, as Heikkilä will present how the project explores medieval literary networks and the role of written culture in shaping Nordic identity and connecting the region to the rest of Europe.

His talk will highlight CODICUM’s interdisciplinary approach, combining traditional manuscript studies with cutting-edge scientific methods like DNA and protein analysis. It will also touch on how medieval books were produced, circulated, and preserved - and what they reveal about the cultural foundations of Northern Europe.

The event is open to members of the Academy on Wednesday 22 October, 15:00–17:00.

• More info: www.acadsci.fi 

Matthew Collins to speak at the 10th Bone Diagenesis Meeting in September

August 22, 2025

Professor Matthew Collins will give the closing keynote at the 10th Bone Diagenesis Meeting (BD2025), held in Athens, Greece, from 24–26 September 2025.

This international conference brings together leading researchers in the study of bone and tooth diagenesis – exploring the physical, chemical, and biological changes that affect biological materials over time. Topics include ancient DNA, palaeoproteomics, stable isotope analysis, and advanced dating techniques. These areas align closely with Professor Collins’ work in bioarchaeology and molecular analysis of historic materials.

Collins’ groundbreaking research on protein degradation in parchment has opened new avenues for understanding diagenetic processes in bone and dental tissues. These insights are relevant to BD2025’s interdisciplinary focus and highlights the broader scientific relevance of CODICUM’s work.

The conference offers a unique opportunity to share CODICUM’s innovative approach – combining manuscript studies with biomolecular science – with a wider research community. 

We believe his perspectives will provide an inspiring conclusion to the meeting, and look forward to the insights and connections this event will bring to CODICUM and the wider field of heritage science.

• Find out more about the conference and read the programme here: https://bd-2025.com/scprogram 

CODICUM in the media: Interview with Tuuli Kasso in Finnish Chemistry Magazine "Kemia"

June 22, 2025

Tuuli Kasso, one of the key researchers in the CODICUM project, has been interviewed by Kemia - a reputable Finnish industry magazine aimed at professionals in chemistry and related fields. 

The article describes her work analyzing medieval parchments using advanced methods. In the interview, Tuuli talks about how ink pigments and parchment materials can shed light on historical trade routes and Finland’s integration into Western Europe.

• Read the article here (Finnish only):  Tuuli Kasso avaa pergamenttien salaisuuksia pyyhekumilla – ”Saan välillä kylmiä väreitä”

CODICUM in the media: Interview with Tuomas Heikkilä by Academia Europaea 

April 29, 2025

Professor Tuomas Heikkilä has appeared in Academia Europaea's Interview Spotlight Series. 

In the interview, Heikkilä discusses how the CODICUM project uses DNA analysis to trace the origins of medieval book fragments and uncover Europe’s hidden intellectual networks. 

• Read the interview here: The hidden networks of medieval Europe: An interview with Tuomas Heikkilä

CODICUM has officially started

April 1, 2025

The CODICUM project has officially taken off, and the Principal Investigators, along with the entire CODICUM team, are thrilled to embark on this exciting journey. The initial steps will involve assembling teams to survey, analyze, collect, and compile the source material.

Collaboration across borders: Then and now

"We feel privileged to have the opportunity to study the unique remnants of European book culture. Medieval learning and literature emerged through cross-border collaboration, and we are continuing this tradition by studying it across borders today," says Professor Åslaug Ommundsen.

”Studying the deep cultural currents that shaped Europe alongside the brilliant minds of the CODICUM team is a true privilege! With experts from multiple disciplines and nationalities, we are pioneering groundbreaking methodologies that will redefine both Northern European history and the ‘scientific turn’ in medieval studies. It feels like being in an intellectual candy store," says Prof. Tuomas Heikkilä.

Prof. Ommundsen, Prof. Heikkilä, Prof. Matthew Collins and Prof. Lars Boje Mortensen are the Principal Investigators and make up the leading team of the research project.

• Read more about the team

Preparing for the CODICUM kick-off

The CODICUM team is finalizing preparations for the kick-off event, which will take place in Bergen on May 12-13. The event will feature an opening ceremony and reception at the historic King Håkon's Hall ("Håkonshallen"), a venerable stone hall built in the Middle Ages.

More information will be shared as the event approaches.

CODICUM Preparatory Meeting in Stockholm

January 14, 2025

The CODICUM project held its preparatory meeting at Sweden's National Archives (Riksarkivet) on January 14–15. Funded by the European Research Council (ERC), the project brings together experts in medieval studies, bioarchaeology, and digital humanities from institutions across Europe.

Coordinated by the University of Bergen, CODICUM aims to uncover the hidden histories of early manuscripts through cutting-edge techniques such as peptide sequencing, DNA extraction, and stemmatological studies. The meeting marked an important step in defining the project’s structure, establishing collaboration tools, and finalizing plans for its official launch 1 April.

Setting the Stage for Collaboration

The meeting opened with a review of administrative details, including updates on the project’s contract with the ERC. Delays due to server upgrades were noted, but the team anticipates the contract will be signed by the end of February.