In January 2003 a field team of four paper and book conservators spent two weeks working in the Surian Monastery, on the conservation of the tenth century Syriac manuscript 'Jacob of Sarug'. The manuscript was originally selected for conservation in 2000.

 

This was the first piece of conservation work undertaken by The Levantine Foundation. The manuscript, dated 956/7, contains metrical homilies by Jacob of Sarug, one of the greatest poets of the Syrian-Orthodox tradition.

 

Survey of the Syriac manuscripts and fragments, and the Coptic and Ethiopic collections have been completed. To date several Syriac manuscripts have been conserved and placed in protective housing. The Syriac manuscripts are currently being described and translated with the aim of publishing a catalogue in the near future.

 

Conservation process and techniques begin with a survey of the document and continue with securing paper and ink, frequently involve reconstruction of the binding and finally suitably housing the document.

 

The images shown here give an example of a manuscript before and after treatment.