“Palimpsest and Imaging” research program

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Last Updated on Friday, 18 October 2024 13:37

The “Palimpsests and Imaging” (PALIMAGE) research program addresses the need to preserve, in digital form, books from Antiquity and the Middle Ages that are threatened with destruction, and to make them accessible to the general public. It uses innovative imaging technologies, such as multispectral and XRF imaging, to decipher the erased text of palimpsest and damaged manuscripts. It explores how computer vision (artificial intelligence) can help decipher ancient manuscripts. Since 2020, it has uncovered, among other things, fragments of Hipparchus’ star catalog, Ptolemy’s lost treatise On the Meteoroscope, and the oldest copy of a Latin introduction to Platonic philosophy.

In practical terms, PALIMAGE consists of:

- organizing field missions to image some of the world’s most damaged books;

- deciphering their now illegible texts;

- disseminating knowledge and know-how.

We prioritize manuscripts that present scientific and technological challenges, in order to provide innovative solutions. This meets the needs of libraries, museums and other cultural institutions that do not have these skills in-house.

Headed by Victor Gysembergh, the “Palimpsests and Imaging” program is funded by Sorbonne University (PALIMXRF project), Paris City Council (IPSIPALIPAR project) and the CNRS. Individuals and organizations can also support the program by making a tax-deductible donation to the CNRS Foundation, here from France and here from abroad (please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions).

Short documentary by CNRS and Le Monde to illustrate the program: (8 minutes)

Short video interview by Sorbonne Université : (4 minutes)

Radio show « Le cours de l’Histoire » on France Culture (60 minutes)

Update October 2024 : the Léon Robin Center ("PalimXRF" project) is publishing a full-time, one-year postdoctoral researcher position, dedicated to the application of multispectral imaging technologies to the reading of ancient manuscripts. Response expected no later than November 4, 2024. See attached presentation.

Attachments:

Call for Applications PALIMXRF.pdf