Estonia’s rich cultural heritage is full of fascinating stories that offer a glimpse into the past. Among the most intriguing finds in Estonian history is the Codex of Türi, a 15th-century manuscript that has recently been the subject of a groundbreaking study led by Dr. Alar Läänelaid and his team. Published in the Journal of Cultural Heritage, their research delves deep into the origins and history of this important artifact, shedding light on the oldest known manuscript in Estonia.
The Codex of Türi, with its ornate Gothic-style design, is bound with two oak boards that have now become a focal point of interest for historians and scientists. The manuscript, which dates back to 1454, was discovered to hold secrets not only within its pages but also in the very materials that bound it. The research into the codex’s wooden covers marks a unique and significant contribution to the field of manuscript preservation and analysis, offering an unparalleled look at the intersection of history, science, and conservation.
The Birth of the Codex: A Glimpse into Medieval Life
The Codex of Türi was created in a small parish church village in Türi, a location that was relatively obscure at the time but would later become the subject of much historical intrigue. According to Dr. Kolk, one of the researchers involved in the study, the manuscript’s primary purpose was to serve as a Latin-German dictionary. It was likely used by someone who needed to understand Biblical language or other Latin texts, such as a rural priest or cleric. The dictionary, known as Vocabularius Ex quo, served as a tool for translation, helping users bridge the linguistic gap between Latin and Low German.
The manuscript was completed in 1454, a time when Europe was undergoing significant cultural and religious changes. Soon after its creation, the codex made its way into the hands of the Dominican friary in Tallinn. The inscription found within the manuscript, which reads, “Iste liber pertinet conuentui Reualiensi” (This book belongs to the convent of Reualiens), indicates that the Dominican friars used the manuscript as part of their religious and intellectual pursuits. The codex became part of the friary’s chained library—a library where books were physically attached to chains to prevent theft.
However, following the dissolution of the Dominican friary in 1525 during the Reformation, the codex was relegated to the archives of Tallinn, where it fell into obscurity. For centuries, the manuscript languished, hidden away in dusty archives, until its rediscovery by conservators in 2021, when it was brought to the forefront of historical scholarship.
A Breakthrough in Manuscript Analysis: The Role of Wooden Covers
While the manuscript’s content was of significant historical and linguistic value, it was the wooden covers that became the subject of a fascinating study. The covers of the Codex of Türi are not just decorative; they are integral to understanding the book’s history and its journey through time. The front panel of the codex features a non-functional round hole, which had been sealed with a wooden plug. This hole, and the way it was repaired, hinted that the cover had originally been part of a different object before being repurposed for the manuscript.
Historically, wooden covers were not as extensively studied as the manuscripts themselves. Dr. Kolk points out that research into the provenance and dating of the materials used for bookbinding has been largely overlooked. This is partly due to the fact that the inside of the wooden covers is often not accessible for dendrochronological research, which is essential for determining the age and origin of the wood. Additionally, the focus of researchers has often been on the content of the manuscripts, rather than the materials that housed them.
In their groundbreaking study, the research team utilized both dendrochronology (the study of tree rings) and strontium isotope analysis to investigate the origins of the oak boards used to bind the manuscript. These methods allowed them to determine not only the age of the wood but also the geographical region from which it originated. This innovative combination of techniques helped piece together the history of the Codex of Türi in ways that were previously unimaginable.
Dating the Wood: Insights into the Past
The results of the dendrochronological analysis were revelatory. The back cover of the codex preserved 120 tree rings and nine sapwood rings, allowing the researchers to pinpoint the felling of the tree that provided the wood for the back cover to a period between 1454 and 1466. Given that the manuscript itself was completed in 1454, it is highly probable that the back cover’s oak tree was felled around the same time, possibly even in 1454.
The dendrochronology also revealed that the wood for the back cover had likely been sourced from the region between Riga and Klaipėda, in modern-day Lithuania. The front cover, however, told a different story. The front cover’s oak tree had been felled much earlier—around 1366, nearly 88 years before the codex was completed. This wood had likely been sourced from Poland, specifically from the area around the confluence of the Bug and Narew Rivers.
Dr. Kolk explained that the use of recycled wood in manuscript binding was not uncommon in the medieval period. “Recycling was extremely common,” he noted, especially in the bookbinding craft. “When a book was discarded, but its covers could still be used, they were repurposed for new manuscripts.” The hole in the front cover, which had been repaired with a wooden plug, further supports the theory that the cover had been used for another purpose before being repurposed for the Codex of Türi.
A Peek into the Craft of Medieval Bookbinding
The study of the Codex of Türi’s wooden covers also provides a fascinating glimpse into the practical aspects of medieval bookbinding. The idea that wood was often recycled for use in bookbinding highlights the resourcefulness and frugality of the time. Books were valuable commodities in the Middle Ages, and every effort was made to ensure that no materials went to waste.
The process of creating a manuscript during the medieval period was labor-intensive, requiring meticulous attention to detail. From the selection of parchment or paper to the binding of the book, each step was carried out with care. In the case of the Codex of Türi, the combination of oak wood from different sources demonstrates the adaptability of the bookbinders. Whether the wooden covers had originally been part of a different manuscript or some other object entirely, they were transformed into the durable and functional bindings that have preserved the text for centuries.
Dr. Kolk and his colleagues’ work illustrates the vital role that conservation and materials analysis can play in understanding the broader historical context of a manuscript. Through the study of the Codex of Türi’s wooden covers, we gain not only insights into the history of this particular manuscript but also into the broader practices of bookbinding, manuscript conservation, and material culture in the medieval world.
The Future of Manuscript Studies
The research conducted by Dr. Läänelaid, Dr. Kolk, and their colleagues is a pioneering effort that opens the door for further studies into the materials used in medieval manuscripts. The combined use of dendrochronology and strontium isotope analysis offers a powerful toolkit for researchers seeking to unlock the secrets of historical artifacts. While this study focused on the Codex of Türi, the methodologies employed could be applied to other manuscripts, providing new avenues for understanding the materials and techniques used in their creation.
As Dr. Kolk notes, there are no immediate plans for further research into the specific materials used in bookbinding, but the team’s ongoing work in historical wood provenance suggests that more discoveries are on the horizon. The study of bookbinding materials, particularly those that have been recycled or repurposed, offers an exciting frontier for historians, conservators, and archaeologists alike.
The Codex of Türi, with its intricate layers of history, craftsmanship, and scientific analysis, is more than just a book—it is a portal to the past. Through this study, we are not only able to learn more about this fascinating manuscript but also gain a deeper appreciation for the ways in which books, materials, and knowledge have traveled through time, linking the past with the present in unexpected and meaningful ways.
Reference: Alar Läänelaid et al, New evidence of re-use of an oak panel in Estonia: Covers of the fifteenth century Codex of Türi, Journal of Cultural Heritage (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.culher.2025.02.015