What is a parchment?
Parchment: history, uses and how to write today as in Antiquity
Did you know that for centuries people didn't write on paper, but on animal skin ?
Throughout history, the need to preserve the written word led ancient civilizations to experiment with different materials. One of the most durable and valued was undoubtedly parchment , a material that for centuries allowed the transmission of knowledge, laws, religious texts, and literary works.
In this article I explain what parchment is, how long it has been used, why it was so important compared to other materials like papyrus , and how you can use parchment sheets today to write, learn, or even experience how writing was done in ancient times.
(Codex Sinaiticus)
What exactly is parchment?
Parchment is a natural writing material made from treated animal skin —mainly sheep, goat or calf— through a handcrafted process that cleans, stretches and smooths the skin until it becomes a surface suitable for writing.
Unlike modern paper, parchment is not made from plant fibers, but retains the natural structure of animal skin. This gives it strength, flexibility, and exceptional durability . It is no coincidence that many ancient manuscripts have survived to this day in perfect condition thanks to carefully crafted parchment sheets.
Since when has parchment been used for writing?
Although there were earlier precedents, the systematic use of parchment for writing became established from the Hellenistic period onwards and spread widely during the Greco-Roman world and, later, throughout the Middle Ages.
Its name comes from the city of Pergamon, where this material was perfected and spread as an alternative to papyrus. From then on, parchment became a fundamental medium for scribes, copyists, administrations, and centers of learning.
From which animals were parchment leaves obtained?
Not all hides were the same, nor did they have the same value. The type of animal determined the quality of the parchment sheet .
- Sheepskin: the most common and affordable. Widely used for everyday documents.
- Goatskin: somewhat more resistant, appreciated for texts that required greater durability.
- Calfskin (vellum): the finest and most valuable. It was reserved for manuscripts of great importance, luxury codices, or religious texts.
The choice of leather depended on the intended use, the budget, and the importance of the document. Even in antiquity, the writing surface also revealed much about the importance of the text and the person who commissioned it.
Why parchment and not papyrus?
Before parchment, papyrus was the most widely used writing material in the ancient world. However, it had significant limitations:
- It only occurred in certain regions
- It was fragile when exposed to moisture
- It did not handle writing well on both sides
- It deteriorated easily
Parchment, on the other hand:
- It could be manufactured in almost any territory
- It was much more resistant
- It allowed corrections by scraping
- It was better suited to codex-style binding
For all these reasons, natural parchment for writing ended up becoming the preferred medium for texts intended to last over time.
What was used to write on parchment in ancient times?
Parchment was not used in isolation. It was part of a set of ancient writing materials that we can experience again today.
Writing instruments
- Reed pens , widely used in the Roman world
-
Bird feathers , widely used from ancient times to the medieval period.
Historical inks
- Black inks made from carbon or soot
- Iron gall inks, made with oak galls and other natural ingredients
- Natural pigments for titles or decorative elements (minerals)
Today it is possible to recreate this experience using handmade parchment sheets , reed pens, quills and traditional inks, such as those we select at Vita Romana , designed for both educational and creative use.
How is parchment used today?
Currently, parchment for writing has a special value as an educational, creative and informative tool:
- Historical writing and calligraphy practice
- Educational workshops in schools, museums and with family
- Historical reenactment and cultural dissemination
- Educational activities on the history of writing
Working with a sheet of parchment allows for a complete sensory experience: touching history with your hands and better understanding how writing and learning took place in the past.
For an even more immersive experience, the parchment can be combined with our historical inks (iron gall and purple), reed pens, quills, and even seals or sealing wax, recreating the entire process of creating an ancient text. All these materials can be found at Vita Romana, designed so that history is not only read, but also touched and experienced.