Tracks (Re: VMs: Reasearching the VMs at Beinecke)

[Koontz John E <John.Koontz@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 30 Aug 2005, DANA SCOTT wrote:
> There are also tracks (parallel lines, less than 1cm?) that suggest
> running a roller over the vellum.

"The equipment of the medieval scribe, who wrote on a sloping desk,
consisted of 'chalk, two pumice stones, two ink horns (for black and red
ink), a sharp knife, two razors ("novaculas sive rasoria duo") for
erasing, a "punctorium", an awl, lead, a straight edge, and a ruling
stick.'  The 'punctorium' was an insrumental for making little pricked
markings on the the parchment to serve as guides for ruling lines; it
consisted of a pair of compasses, though in later times a small wheel with
points was also used."  Bischoff 1997 Latin Paleongraphy (pp. 18-19)

Perhaps the marks have something to do with the ruling process?

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