Study reveals hidden role of medieval female scribes in manuscript production

Study reveals hidden role of medieval female scribes in manuscript production

For centuries, the image of a monk laboring on a manuscript has been the dominant portrayal of medieval scribal work. However, in a newly published study presented in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, an old truth is revealed: women played a significant role in manuscript production. Researchers from the University of Bergen in Norway discovered that at least 1.1% of medieval manuscripts were transcribed by female scribes, which is …

For centuries, medieval manuscripts have been perceived as the exclusive fruit of the work of monks, copyists, re-enacted in their scriptoria. This deeply rooted image has long eclipsed other realities of the medieval literate world. However, a recent study conducted by an interdisciplinary team at the University of Bergen (Norway) upsets this vision. Published in the journal Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, it reveals that women a…