In July of this year, I was able to travel to Geneva to work with the Bodmer Collection in Cologny.  The object of the trip was a collaboration with Ira Rabin from the BAM (Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung) to do ink analysis on manuscripts from the Bodmer Collection.  I have previously traveled to the archive to work on a project that is in progress, and I was particularly interested in the ink analysis of Papyrus Bodmer 44, a Bohairic translation of the Book of Daniel.  

Research was carried out using an XRF (X-ray fluorescence) spectrometer to analyze the chemical composition of Bodmer manuscripts’ inks.  Specifically, the radiation is sent through the material to be analyzed and the various elements in the ink, e.g. copper, iron, nickel, etc., produce various X-rays, which can then be recorded by the XRF spectrometer. 

Analysis could only be carried out on areas with ink on one side.  Thus, careful preparation was required to identify potential areas that also measured at least Ø 1 mm and had ink in relatively good condition.  Images of the desired areas were also taken using Dino-Lite to produce NL (normal light), UV (ultra-violet), and IR (infrared) photographs of the areas being analyzed.  This provides additional information, and can show when carbon or plant-based inks were being used.

In addition to PB44, we were able to analyze the ink from many different Bodmer manuscripts.  This will be useful not only in understanding the relationship of a text in a singular manuscript, but to also get a better understanding of the Bodmer Papyri as a whole.

The complete analysis of our findings is still in progress, however, I look forward to the results and implementing them in further study on the Bodmer Collection.