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Intact 11th-Century 'Georgian Scriptorium' Discovered in Remote Caucasus Monastery with Rare Vellum Manuscripts

📅 April 8, 2026 📰 The Art Newspaper
Intact 11th-Century 'Georgian Scriptorium' Discovered in Remote Caucasus Monastery with Rare Vellum Manuscripts

A team of heritage experts has revealed the discovery of a hidden scriptorium within the walls of a remote 11th-century monastery in the Svaneti region of Georgia. The chamber, which had been sealed due to a landslide centuries ago, contains over twenty vellum manuscripts written in the Nuskhuri script. These texts include previously unknown hagiographies and a detailed astronomical calendar used by medieval monks to track planetary alignments.

The preservation of the site is described as miraculous; the cool, dry air of the high-altitude chamber kept the organic inks and pigments vibrant. Conservators are particularly excited about a leather-bound volume that appears to be a manual for medicinal herbs indigenous to the Caucasus. This discovery offers an unparalleled glimpse into the intellectual and scientific life of the medieval Georgian Kingdom during its Golden Age.

Original source: The Art Newspaper