Scribes and Writing Practices in Egypt's Ala Veterana Gallica: A Preliminary Study of Inks from a Military Roll

Olivier Bonnerot, Leah Mascia

Abstract

This article reports on the preliminary study of the inks from a military roll belonging to the archive of the veteran (Lucius) Iulius Serenus, dated to 179 CE. The papyrus contains receipts for payments for hay for soldiers of the ala veterana Gallica, and features different writing hands and inks of various appearances. The analysis using a combination of infrared reflectography and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, revealed that the inks are carbon-based, but also contain varying amounts of copper and calcium depending on the writing hand and the section of the roll. These results shed light on the development and diversity of ink production and use in Egypt from the late second century CE in the context of the Roman army.

Download

IMEKO-MetroArchaeo-2023-157.pdf

DOI

10.21014/tc4-ARC-2023.157

IMEKO TC

TC4 - Measurement of Electrical Quantities

Back to the proceedings