Beautiful medieval manuscripts are likely to have been the work of nuns (NOT male monks as was previously believed!)

Beautiful medieval illuminated manuscripts have for centuries thought to have been the work of male scribes.

But now archaeologists have found conclusive proof that nuns were involved in producing sacred texts.

Tests on the teeth of a middle-aged female skeleton at a cemetery attached to a medieval nunnery in Germany showed flecks of a rare blue pigment on her teeth. Scientific detective work reveals that the blue colour - ultramarine, made from the semi-precious stone lapis lazuli - indicates she must have been involved in painting the holy books, and licked the end of her paintbrush when using the rare pigment.

The discovery shows women were producing art in a time when it was considered largely the preserve of men.

Lapis lazuli was costly as it was produced from a single mine in Afghanistan.


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6574173/Beautiful-medieval-manuscripts-likely-work-nuns-NOT-monks.html