Summary
Researchers are investigating whether the Book of Kells, an ancient and elaborately decorated manuscript, was created in Easter Ross, Scotland, instead of the previously thought location of Iona. This investigation involves reconstructing a medieval workshop where materials for the book might have been made, offering new insights into the manuscript's origins.
Key Facts
- The Book of Kells is a handwritten book over 1,200 years old, known for its detailed designs.
- Researchers think the Book of Kells might have been made in a monastery in Portmahomack, Easter Ross, not Iona.
- An ancient workshop for making vellum, a type of writing surface, was found in Portmahomack.
- This workshop had tools for working animal hides and evidence of materials used in the vellum-making process.
- Thomas Keyes, a craftsman and researcher, aims to recreate the vellum-making process to learn more about the book's origins.
- The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is funding this project with £2,779.
- The project includes public presentations and publications, with results expected to be shared online in 2026.
- Trinity College Dublin has housed the Book of Kells since 1661.
