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Re: orion Re: DNA hide tests
At 11:46 AM 10/21/97 -0600, you wrote:
>Dear D.D. Stuhlman,
>
>You make some good points. I would like to know if hides
>were indeed stockpiled, how long would the velum have
>remained pliable and ( smooth things :>)) easy-to-write
>on. I don't think the writers of the KQ scrolls would
>have written on 200-year-old velum...or would they?
>Is there data to show that the hides were stockpiled?
>Although there was trading, and since we know of various
>trade routes, tribal hierarchies, Nuamis (sp?),camps,
>etc. wouldn't getting a better handle on the culture be
>interesting?. From where were hides imported (perhaps
>from the elusive sea-peoples)?.. DNA matching could
>reveal a host of things. Was the "liturgical or
>theological state" of the hide/animal important.. if
>so,would this delimit our search?
>
>Your points (stockpiling, trading) could also apply to
>C14 dating n'est-ce pas?
>
>Elmer Smalling III
Interesting questions.
I will ask some modern Torah scribes about their parchment. I am sure that
the parchment used today remains usuable for approximately the same time
frame as the ancient parchment.
There is a difference between vellum and parchment. I am not exactly sure,
but I believe vellum is thiner.
I am only speculating about the stock piling and trading; I have no data.
The speculation about using "old" writing surfaces is based on the fact
that vellum and parchment were expensive. If someone found some old
materials it would be cheaper to clean and re-use rather than buying new
materials. I have seen manuscripts and even printed books from Yemen that
had writing student exercises and scribal practice letters in the margins
and endpapers.
DDS
Daniel D. Stuhlman
Hebrew Theological College
Saul Silber Memorial Library
7135 N Carpenter Road
Skokie, IL 60077
847-982-2500
ssmlhtc@nslsilus.org
Hag Sukkot Sama-ah