pergamen

Pergamen, often spelled parchment in many languages, is a writing material made from animal skin, typically of sheep, goat, or calf, that has been specially prepared to create a smooth, durable writing surface. The name derives from Latin pergamēnum, linked to the ancient city of Pergamon in Asia Minor, where such treated skins were widely used. Parchment is distinguished from papyrus and ordinary paper by its preparation method and its archival durability.

Production involves several steps. Selected skins are cleaned, hair removed, and the fat dissolved, commonly using lime. The skins are then scraped, stretched, and dried under tension to achieve the desired thickness and surface texture. The resulting material accepts ink and pigments well and resists deterioration when stored properly. A higher-grade variant, vellum, traditionally uses calfskin and is noted for especially fine quality.

Variations in terminology exist across languages. In many tongues, pergament or parchment denotes the animal-skin material. Parchment paper (also called baking parchment) is a modern, cellulose-based product coated for heat resistance, and is not made from animal skin.

History and use have been central to European manuscript culture. From late antiquity through the Middle Ages, parchment replaced papyrus for codices, charters, religious texts, and legal documents due to its durability and versatility. In palaeography, the material influences ink behavior and writing surface analysis.

Today, parchment continues to be produced for specialized bookbinding, calligraphy, and archival reproductions. Much commercial use has shifted toward paper, though parchment remains valued for certain historical, religious, or artisanal applications.