Lecture Series: Erik Kwakkel

Leiden, University Library, 583, printed work (16th century) with medieval fragments inside (12th century) – Photo Erik Kwakkel

Dr. Erik Kwakkel  is a lecturer and researcher in medieval paleography and codicology at Leiden University. 

Something Old, Something New: Medieval Manuscripts and Digital Research Methods.

In this talk, Erik Kwakkel shows how the study of medieval manuscripts can benefit from a digital approach. He presents two case studies: 1) How medieval script is studied in a quantified manner, using modest statistical research; 2) How MA-XRF, an x-ray technique, enables us to look inside early-modern bookbindings, revealing (and reading) medieval fragments that are hiding inside. These two examples will be taken as representatives of two common types of Digital Humanities research: one using digital techniques to do traditional research more efficiently, the other producing results that could not be gained in traditional research.