A list of events sponsored by Digital Medievalist over the past years.
2025
International Medieval Congress 2025, Leeds
TUESDAY 8 JULY 2025: 16.30-18.00
Session 845 – Virtual Middle Ages
Sponsor: Digital Medievalist / SFB 1567 ‘Virtuelle Lebenswelten’, Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Organisers: Klaus Oschema, Deutsches Historisches Institut, Paris and Suzette van Haaren, SFB 1567, ‘Virtuelle Lebenswelten’, Ruhr-Universität Bochum
This session explores the innovative intersection of medieval studies and extended realities (XR), such as virtual reality (VR) or mixed reality (MR) technology, focusing on how digital environments reimagine and represent the Middle Ages. The papers will present research on the creative, historical and pedagogical potential of XR in reconstructing medieval environments. Think for example mixed or virtual reality experiences in museums, the virtual reconstructions of archeological sites or buildings, leafing through virtual medieval manuscripts, or VR games in medieval settings. The session will delve into the challenges of authenticity, the use of XR for immersive storytelling, and the implications of these digital reconstructions for understanding medieval culture and history. Participants will reflect on the ongoing virtualisation, in broader philosophical sense, of the way we write and present history.
Moderator: Suzette van Haaren, SFB 1567, ‘Virtuelle Lebenswelten’, Ruhr-Universität Bochum
845-a: Recreating the Middle Ages: VR Productions in Polish and German Cultural Institutions
Lena Ciochon, SFB 1567 ‘Virtuelle Lebenswelten’, Ruhr-Universität Bochum
845-b: Space, Experience, and Embodiment: Using Virtual Reality to Reactivate the Medieval Imagination
Blair Apgar, Department of History & Geography, Elon University, North Carolina
845-c: Augmenting the Panorama of the Battle of Murten: An Immersive Experiment of a 19th-Century Representation of a Late Medieval Battle Scene
Daniel Jaquet, Laboratoire de Muséologie Expérimentale, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
WEDNESDAY 9 JULY 2025: 11.15-12.45
Session 1141 – Digital Manuscript Studies, I: Transcriptions and Editions
Sponsor: Digital Medievalist
Organiser: N. Kıvılcım Yavuz, Institute for Medieval Studies / School of History, University of Leeds
The Digital Manuscript Studies sessions bring together scholars interested in applying computational tools to manuscript studies. The first session focuses on digital scholarly editing and computational philology. Kramarić discusses the creation of a digital edition for the Croatian medieval text Zrcalo čověčaskago spasenje (1445), showcasing its semi-diplomatic transcription and TEI/XML formatting. Utilising digital tools to uncover scribal practices, Jakobs investigates the English gloss of the Eadwine Psalter. Kapitan outlines a workflow for creating digital editions that support both traditional and digital publication formats while also allowing for visualisations of textual relationships between witnesses.
Moderator: Adam Zapała, Centrum Studiów Mediewistycznych, Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II / Zakład Atlasu Historycznego, Instytut Historii im. Tadeusza Manteuffla, Polska Akademia Nauk, Warszawa
1141-a: The Complex Digital Object of the Croatian Medieval Text Zrcalo člověčaskago spasenje, 1445
Martina Kramarić, Institut za hrvatski jezik, Zagreb
1141-b: A Digital Approach to the Study of Scribal Practices: The English Gloss of the Eadwine Psalter
Jannis Jakobs, Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic, University of Cambridge
1141-c: Three-in-One or More: Multi-purpose XML-Encoded Editions and Computational Philology
Katarzyna Anna Kapitan, École Nationale des Chartes – PSL, Paris
WEDNESDAY 9 JULY 2025: 14.15-15.45
Session 1241 – Digital Manuscript Studies, II: Methodologies and Materialities
Sponsor: Digital Medievalist
Organiser: N. Kıvılcım Yavuz, Institute for Medieval Studies / School of History, University of Leeds
The Digital Manuscript Studies sessions bring together scholars interested in applying computational tools to manuscript studies. The second session focuses on different methodologies, taking digital materialities into consideration. The first paper discusses a graph-based approach to visualise relationships within Byzantine Book Epigrams, combining textual and metadata for deeper analysis. De Biase integrates traditional and digital approaches in a quantitative study of Dante’s Commedia. Drawing on her experience of developing an open access book on manuscript studies, Yavuz reflects on the challenges and possibilities of creating open digital resources that are accessible, and relevant to a global audience.
Paper A ‘Enhancing and Visualising Textual and Material Analysis of Manuscripts: A Graph-Based Approach’ is co-authored by Colin Swaelens, Eleonora Lauro, Maxime Deforche, Ilse De Vos, Rachele Ricceri, Floris Bernard, and Kristoffel Demoen.
Moderator: Tamas Kovacs, Institut für Digitale Geisteswissenschaften, Universität Graz
1241-a: Enhancing and Visualising Textual and Material Analysis of Manuscripts: A Graph-Based Approach
Eleonora Lauro, Faculteit Letteren en Wijsbegeerte, Universiteit Gent and Colin Swaelens, Faculteit Letteren en Wijsbegeerte, Universiteit Gent
1241-b: The Commedia in Mercantesca: A Quantitative Study on Dante’s Manuscript Tradition between Traditional and Digital Approaches
Federica De Biase, Scuola Superiore Meridionale, Napoli
1241-c: What Does an Open Book on Medieval Manuscripts Look Like?: Designing Inclusive Resources for a Global Community
N. Kıvılcım Yavuz, Institute for Medieval Studies / School of History, University of Leeds
WEDNESDAY 09 JULY 2025: 16.30-18.00
Session 1341 – Digital Manuscript Studies, III: Possibilities and Challenges
Sponsor: Digital Medievalist
Organiser: N. Kıvılcım Yavuz, Institute for Medieval Studies / School of History, University of Leeds
The Digital Manuscript Studies sessions bring together scholars interested in applying computational tools to manuscript studies. The third session focuses on digital approaches to textuality. Fatma Aladağ explores the possibilities and challenges associated with producing training data for HTR of Ottoman scripts with Transkribus. Dmitri Sichinava addresses challenges in processing Old East Slavic vernacular texts in linguistic corpora. Finally, Saranya Chandran explores Garshuni Malayalam manuscripts, revealing how digital tools can illuminate their historical context and cultural heritage.
Moderator: Chris Nighman, Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Toronto / Department of History, Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario
1341-a Digital Editions of Ottoman Manuscripts: AI-Driven Transcription of Nesih Script with Transkribus [Virtual]
Fatma Aladağ, Historisches Seminar, Universität Leipzig and Elif Can, Tarih Bölümü, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf Üniversitesi, Türkiye
1341-b The Materiality of Old East Slavic Vernacular Writing as a Challenge for Digital Processing in Linguistic Corpora
Dmitri Sichinava, Institut für Slavistik, Universität Potsdam
1341-c Bridging Manuscripts and Digital Tools: Exploring Garshuni Malayalam Manuscripts through Digital Means
Saranya Chandran, Department of Historical Studies, Central European University, Budapest/Wien
WEDNESDAY 9 JULY 2025: 19.00-20.00
Session 1438 – Tools and Methods in Digital Medieval Studies: A Round Table Discussion
Sponsor: Digital Medievalist
Organisers: Katarzyna Anna Kapitan, École Nationale des Chartes, Paris and N. Kıvılcım Yavuz, Institute for Medieval Studies / School of History, University of Leeds
Moderator: Lisa Fagin Davis, Medieval Academy of America, Massachusetts
Sponsored by Digital Medievalist (https://digitalmedievalist.org/), this round table discussion considers developments in the field of digital medieval studies by bringing together users and creators of new tools and methods. These include eScriptorium (https://escriptorium.inria.fr), Transkribus (https://www.transkribus.org), IIIF (https://iiif.io), Fragmentarium (https://fragmentarium.ms), VisColl and VCEditor (http://viscoll.org), and a broader discussion of the possibilities provided by digital solutions as well as open source and open access initiatives. Newcomers to digital humanities are especially welcome to join the discussion.
Participants include Olivier Brisville-Fertin (ENS Lyon, CIHAM-UMR 5648); Alberto Campagnolo (University of Louvain); Veronika Drescher (Austrian National Library); Claire Knowles (University of Leeds Libraries); Jan Odstrčilík (Austrian Academy of Sciences); Dot Porter (Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies, University of Pennsylvania Libraries).
WEDNESDAY 9 JULY 2025: 20.00-21.00
Reception Hosted by Digital Creativity And Cultures Hub, University of Leeds / Digital Medievalist
A reception hosted by the Digital Creativity and Cultures Hub and the Digital Medievalist community. Come, enjoy drinks and snacks, confab about applications of digital technologies to Medieval Studies, and hear about the forthcoming developments – all welcome!
THURSDAY 10 JULY 2025: 09.00-10.30
Session 1538 – Digital Approaches to Materiality of Manuscripts, I: Classrooms
Sponsor: Digital Medievalist
Organiser: Katarzyna Anna Kapitan, École nationale des Chartes, Paris
The Digital Approaches to Materiality of Manuscripts sessions bring together scholars interested in applying computational tools to manuscript studies. The first session highlights innovative pedagogical approaches in manuscript studies through digital tools. Albers-Morris and Gatti discuss photogrammetry to model manuscript bindings, enhancing understanding of material culture. Odstrčilík and Pürstinger share insights from their Winter School on Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR), focusing on diverse scripts and the impact of collaborative learning. Peratello reviews digital resources for studying medieval Scandinavian manuscripts, addressing challenges of accessibility.
Moderator: Katarzyna Anna Kapitan, École nationale des Chartes, Paris
1538-a: Modelling Manuscript Bindings for Teaching and 3D Consultation
Catherine Albers-Morris, Medieval Studies & Digital Humanities, University of Rochester, New York and Evan Gatti, Department of History & Geography, Elon University, North Carolina
1538-b: Teaching and Learning Handwritten Text Recognition of Medieval Manuscripts: Experience from Winter Schools in Vienna
Jan Odstrčilík, Institut für Mittelalterforschung, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien and Leon Pürstinger, Institut für Mittelalterforschung, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien
1538-c: Teaching Medieval Scandinavian Manuscripts with Digital Material: Challenges and Future Outlook
Paola Peratello, Dipartimento di Studi Linguistici e Culturali Comparati, Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia
THURSDAY 10 JULY 2025: 11.15-12.45
Session 1638 – Digital Approaches to Materiality of Manuscripts, II: Structures
Sponsor: Digital Medievalist
Organiser: Katarzyna Anna Kapitan, École nationale des Chartes, Paris
The Digital Approaches to Materiality of Manuscripts sessions bring together scholars interested in applying computational tools to manuscript studies. The second session focuses on structures and examines digital tools and methods advancing the study of manuscript materiality. Campagnolo provides updates on VisColl, a digital tool and infrastructure that models and visualizes the physical structure of books in codex format and its current software implementation VCEditor, which was recently awarded a Digital Humanities Advancement Grant (Level III) from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Kaplan investigates marginal flora of fifteenth-century manuscripts and asks whether we might be able to date these manuscripts more precisely with the help of digital humanities tools. Pourahmadi, Frandsen and Eriksen address the challenges of revealing obscured manuscript fragments repurposed in book bindings and propose a combined approach of hyperspectral imaging and deep learning.
Paper C ‘Challenges and Solutions for Revealing Hidden Text in Binding Materials: Case Studies from the Herlufsholm Collection at the University Library of Southern Denmark’ is co-authored by Baharan Pourahmadi, Mads Toudal Frandsen, and René Lynge Eriksen.
Moderator: Laura K. Morreale, Independent Scholar
1638-a: Advancing Manuscript Materiality Studies through VisColl and VCEditor
Alberto Campagnolo, Institut de Recherche Religions, Spiritualités, Cultures, Sociétés (RSCS), Université Catholique de Louvain
1638-b: Flowers for a First Date?: On Floral Borders as a Way to Date Manuscripts
S. C. Kaplan, School of Literature & Language, Louisiana Tech University
1638-c: Challenges and Solutions for Revealing Hidden Text in Binding Materials: Case Studies from the Herlufsholm Collection at the University Library of Southern Denmark
Baharan Pourahmadi, Institut for Kultur- og Sprogvidenskaber, Syddansk Universitet, Odense and Mads Toudal Frandsen, Institut for Fysik, Kemi og Farmaci, Syddansk Universitet, Odense
THURSDAY 10 JULY 2025: 14.15-15.45
Session 1738 – Digital Approaches to Materiality of Manuscripts, III: Patterns
Sponsor: Digital Medievalist
Organiser: Katarzyna Anna Kapitan, École nationale des Chartes, Paris
The Digital Approaches to Materiality of Manuscripts sessions bring together scholars interested in applying computational tools to manuscript studies. The third session focuses on patterns and explores advancements in AI and machine learning applied to manuscripts. Dows-Miller analyses medieval scribes’ word-breaking practices in Jean Froissart’s Chroniques. Combining traditional palaeography with AI technology, Bouressa introduces an AI-driven tool for the identification of Beneventan, St. Gall, Hispanic, and square neumes in medieval music manuscripts. Lee and Lee propose using generative AI in fragmentology, offering new approaches to reconstruct lost elements of manuscripts while ensuring ethical transparency.
Paper B ‘Automatic Neume Script Identification’ is co-authored by Kyrie Bouressa and Ichiro Fujinaga
Moderator: N. Kıvılcım Yavuz, Institute for Medieval Studies / School of History, University of Leeds
1738-a: Learning the Lines: Machine Learning and Statistical Approaches to Words Broken across Lines in the Manuscripts of Jean Froissart’s Chroniques
Sebastian Dows-Miller, Faculty of Medieval & Modern Languages, University of Oxford
1738-b: Automatic Neume Script Identification
Kyrie Bouressa, School of Music, McGill University
1738-c: Reimagining What’s Lost: Exploring Applications of Generative AI to Fragmentology [Virtual]
Loren Easterday Lee, Department of French, University of Virginia and Lindsay Evans Lee, Independent Scholar
FRIDAY 11 JULY 2025: 08.30-19.30
Digital Medieval Studies Institute
Sponsor: University of Leeds Institute for Medieval Studies, University of Leeds Libraries, Digital Medievalist
Organisers: Laura K. Morreale and N. Kıvılcım Yavuz
The Digital Medieval Studies Institute (DMSI) presents a full-day programme featuring workshops on digital scholarly methods specifically tailored for medievalists. The day-long DMSI introduces participants to a range of digital methodologies currently in use within the field of medieval studies and offers in-depth exploration through one of five workshop offerings. In addition to the workshops, there is a group meeting at the start, sessions of lightning talks at midday, and an end-of-the-day wrap up session that provides opportunities for networking with other scholars with shared interests. The primary goal of DMSI is for attendees to gain sufficient training during the one-day event to apply the skills acquired to their ongoing research and teaching in medieval studies. A drinks reception brings the day to a close.
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