Diagnosis and digitization of Dantesque Code “Phillipps 9589”

none4This work concerns the study of Dante’s Code, illuminated on parchment, which is preserved at the Library of “Centro Dantesco dei Frati Minori Conventuali” in Ravenna. This Code is well-known by the international scientific Community as Phillipps 9589 and its notoriety is not only due to the fact that it’s the only Dante’s Palimpsest, but also because it preserves, at the scripto superior, one of the older witness of that branch of handwritten tradition of Dante’s Commedia named “Tradition a”, the so-called “old Vulgate”. The research, worked out for several stages, had aimed to examine the technical-diagnostic aspects, in particular the general purposes had been: – evaluation about the state of preservation; – materials characterization; – improvement of the legibility of Dante’s text and Palimpsest reading; – evaluation about the preservative environment; – code digitization suitable for a intranet and internet use. In this connection, the following non-destructive diagnostic techniques bad been employed, also related to a documentary aim: – image analysis videomicroscope; – spectrophotometric colorimetry; – X-ray fluorescence (XRF); – Multispectral Imaging System (MuSIS); – environmental monitoring Instruments (thermohygrometer, illuminometer, aerosol spectrometer PTS e PM10).From “Quaderni di Scienza della Conservazione” to “Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage”: we are not changing, but learning from our past and evolving During its seven years of life, from 2000 to 2007, the Journal has given shape and meaning to an idea which stems from a metabolic process of creation and evolution. In the past this process suffered the consequences of a previous cultural heritage, but at the same time was captivated by it and as a result became completely absorbed by this complex, multi-faceted and fascinating world. This not only implies in-depth, historical-humanistic knowledge and creativity deriving from artistic involvment, but also the need to ensure and perfect the methodology and techniques applied to the study of cultural heritage. All this reflected the scientific intents and purposes established by the following Institutions where the Journal was born: Dipartimento di Storie e Metodi per la Conservazione dei Beni Culturali dell’Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna (Ravenna), Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca in Ingegneria dell’Automazione e dei Sistemi dell’Università di Palermo and Progetto Eureka-European Agency Cultural Heritage CNR, E.S. Sistemi, Inet. However, the ever-increasing number of praiseworthy, scientific contributions which have reached the Journal in recent years, have led us – also due to requests from foreign readers – to publish the Journal in English, starting with issue number 7. At the same time it has been made available on electronic and paper support. http://conservation-science.cib.unibo.it/noneSalvatore Lorusso; Andrea Natali; Chiara Matteucci; Raffaele SavigniSalvatore Lorusso; Andrea Natali; Chiara Matteucci; Raffaele Savign