pergamena

Pergamana, or pergamena, refers to parchment, a writing material produced from animal skin, typically sheep, goat, or calf. The process begins with selecting a suitable hide, which is soaked, cleaned, and treated to loosen the hair. The skin is then limed, degreased, and scraped on a stretching frame until it achieves a thin, durable, and relatively smooth surface. The finished sheets may be further buffed, whitened with chalk or other substances, and cut to size. The term pergamena derives from Pergamon, an ancient city in Asia Minor, which played a prominent role in early parchment production; the association contributed to the name entering Latin and medieval usage as a general term for the material.

Historically, pergamena was widely used in Europe and the Mediterranean for writing and bookmaking, especially before the broad availability of paper. Its durability, resistance to humidity, and ability to be produced inland made it a preferred support for manuscripts, codices, charters, and liturgical books. In medieval contexts, high-quality calfskin sheets are often called vellum, though usage varies by region.

Types and uses vary by preparation and animal source. Parchment can be prepared to different thicknesses and translucencies, with vellum typically referring to calfskin ones and sometimes to higher-grade skins. Although paper eventually eclipsed parchment in general use, pergamena remains associated with historical documents, illuminated manuscripts, archival materials, and modern bookbinding practices, where its distinctive texture and longevity are valued in specific scholarly and ceremonial contexts.