Medieval Manuscripts Found to Be Bound in Sealskin, Redefining Trade and Crafting Practices

New research confirms sealskin was widely used in 12th- and 13th-century book bindings, revealing extensive trade networks and material preferences of Cistercian monasteries.

A groundbreaking study published in Royal Society Open Science confirmed that many medieval books, including those from Clairvaux Abbey, were bound with sealskin rather than locally sourced animal hides.
Using advanced biocodicological techniques such as mass spectrometry and DNA analysis, researchers identified sealskin as the material for book chemises, overturning long-held assumptions about local sourcing.
The seals used for bindings originated from regions such as Scandinavia, Greenland, Scotland, Iceland, and Denmark, highlighting far-reaching medieval trade networks.
Sealskin was likely chosen for its water resistance and light coloration, aligning with the practical and aesthetic preferences of the Cistercian order.
The findings underscore the global economic connections of medieval monastic centers, linking them to Norse trading routes and challenging prior notions of isolated local production.