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Arts & Communication

PERSPECTIVE ARTICLE
Preserving the past: Unveiling challenges in

ancient Islamic manuscript conservation

1
Rita Araújo *
Independent Researcher, Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract

In recent decades, research into ancient Islamic manuscripts has significantly
advanced, elucidating diverse material and technical details. Despite this progress,
a noticeable gap persists in understanding the material and technical aspects,
particularly regarding illuminations. Moreover, it is imperative to investigate whether
different technical features of bookbinding can impact the preservation condition of
the textblock. This gap in understanding is even more pronounced when compared to
the comprehensive approaches applied to ancient Western manuscripts. This paper
emphasizes the critical importance of adopting an accessible and comprehensive
methodology to explore the complexities of Islamic manuscript production, aiming
to enhance their preservation efforts by establishing effective strategies to safeguard
this cultural heritage for future generations.

Keywords: Islamic manuscripts; Book conservation; Codicology; Illumination

*Corresponding author:
Rita Araújo
(araujo.rita.ad@gmail.com) 1. Introduction
Citation: Araújo R. Preserving Manuscripts, as intricate repositories of knowledge, are susceptible to various risks that
the past: Unveiling challenges may result in their deterioration or loss. These hazards span a broad spectrum of external
in ancient Islamic manuscript
conservation. Arts & influences as well as the consequences of human actions. The multifaceted threats faced
Communication. 2024;2(3):3205. in manuscript preservation highlight the complexities of ensuring their longevity. This
doi: 10.36922/ac.3205 underscores the necessity for proactive measures in preservation and conservation
Received: March 19, 2024 endeavors. 1-3
Accepted: May 11, 2024 Despite their significance, there has been a noticeable lack of scholarly attention
Published Online: August 16, 2024 to the material and technical production of ancient Islamic manuscripts in recent
decades. This limited focus is partly attributed to the global loss of priceless books
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s).
This is an Open-Access article amid various adversities, with wars and conflicts being the primary factors in their
distributed under the terms destruction. Consequently, there is a significant gap in the scholarly exploration of
of the Creative Commons
AttributionNoncommercial License, the developmental trajectory of ancient Islamic manuscripts, particularly concerning
1-3
permitting all non-commercial use, material and technical aspects as they evolved into more recent periods. In addition,
distribution, and reproduction in any there is a lack of understanding of how these materials and technical elements affect
medium, provided the original work
is properly cited. the overall preservation condition of the manuscripts. This attention deficit impedes
our understanding of the intricate evolution of these manuscripts and hinders the
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with development of more effective conservation strategies tailored to their specific needs.
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional Another significant factor that has exacerbated the loss of information regarding
affiliations. the ancient art of Islamic book production was the prevalent practice among affluent

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2024) 1 doi: 10.36922/ac.3205