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Histological study of sheep skin transformation during the recreation of historical parchment manufacture

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Fourneau, Marc 
Canon, Caroline 
Van Vlaender, Daniel 
Collins, Matthew J. 
Fiddyment, Sarah 

Abstract

Abstract: We report a simple histological study on skin biopsies from young domestic sheep following each step in transformation from skin to parchment production. During the recreation of historical parchment manufacture, histological analyses were conducted; before and after lime treatment, hair removal, and stretching. Sections were fixed and stained using a variety of histological stains to identify the presence of different molecular classes and the fibrous proteins, collagen and elastin. The results reveal surprisingly few histological changes in most steps in the production process. However, very visible changes in the supramolecular ordering of skin macromolecules (elastin, collagen) occur during the final stage of parchment production when stretched on the frame. Collagen fibres and hair follicles were all strongly re-oriented in the direction of strain. Surprisingly despite the thinness of the lambskin and the exhaustive treatment in lime, not all fats were saponified and even in the final product Oil Red O stained fat bodies were detectable on the hair side of the skin. We believe this study will help compensate for the lack of sources on microscopic changes in parchment during the recreation of its historical manufacture.

Description

Keywords

Research Article, Sheep skin, Histology, Parchment, Collagen, Elastin, Lipid

Journal Title

Heritage Science

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2050-7445

Volume Title

8

Publisher

Springer International Publishing
Sponsorship
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (787282)
NATRIP - Namur transdisciplinary research impulsion program (Pergamenum21)
Danmarks Grundforskningsfond (DNRF128)