paleografia

Paleografía is the study of historical handwriting and manuscripts, focused on deciphering, dating, and interpreting written documents. It covers a broad range of scripts and traditions, from ancient inscriptions to medieval bound volumes and early printed books. Paleographers analyze letter forms, abbreviations, punctuation, layout, and material supports such as parchment, paper, and inks to read texts and determine their origin.

The practice combines elements of philology, codicology, and diplomatics. It uses comparison with dated exemplars, knowledge of script styles, and contextual clues to estimate when and where a manuscript was produced, who may have scribed it, and how it circulated. In modern work, digital paleography and imaging technologies—such as multispectral imaging—assist in reading damaged or faded texts and in documenting handwriting patterns.

Historically, paleography developed within medieval and early modern scholarship as scholars sought to identify authoritative copies and trace textual transmission. It now underpins critical editions, archival research, and the study of literature, law, theology, and administration. The field covers many writing systems, including Latin, Greek, Cyrillic, Hebrew, Arabic, and other regional scripts, and requires training in palaeographic hands, dating criteria, and local conventions.

Paleography is closely related to codicology (the study of manuscripts as physical objects) and diplomatics (the analysis of documents and seals). Its findings help establish manuscript provenance, date, authorship, scribal networks, and the history of notation. While some texts are legible and straightforward, many require careful reconstruction of marginalia, abbreviations, and damaged folios.