If you’ve ever helplessly watched your phone slip into the toilet, take comfort in knowing that similar mishaps have occurred for centuries. However, unlike modern phones, a medieval German merchant’s personal notebook survived remarkably well after ending up in the right place.
Initial analysis suggests this small ledger is between 700 and 800 years old. Its condition is so well-preserved that researchers are optimistic about deciphering the inscriptions on its wax-coated pages.
“It sounds strange, but for us archaeologists, latrines are almost always a treasure trove,” says archaeologist Barbara Rüschoff-Parzinger, cultural affairs officer of LWL in Germany. Comparable medieval artifacts have been found in Lübeck and Lüneburg, but this is the only known case where an entire book has been preserved in such conditions.
Organic materials like wood and leather typically don’t withstand the test of time. Exposure to oxygen and bacteria often leads to decomposition before preservation conditions can be met. However, waterlogged waste sites like cesspits, middens, and latrines can create low-oxygen environments that inhibit decay, making them valuable archaeological sites.
While exploring a medieval bog may not sound appealing, such sites often yield significant archaeological finds. This particular latrine was uncovered during excavations in Paderborn, Germany, dating back to the 13th or 14th century.
Amidst the remnants of medieval meals, a small, oblong object was found. Measuring 10 by 7.5 centimeters (4 by 3 inches), it featured an embossed leather cover over wooden, wax-coated pages, identified as a wax tablet book used for note-taking in medieval times.
The wax surface would be inscribed with a sharp stylus, while the opposite end, shaped like a spatula, could erase the wax for reuse. Archaeologist Sveva Gai of LWL suggests the notebook might have belonged to a Paderborn merchant, who used it to record transactions and personal notes, as merchants were among the few literate individuals of that time.
Following meticulous cleaning, it was revealed that the book contains ten pages, eight of which are double-sided, while the end pages are single-sided. Many pages still display the cramped handwriting of the original owner.
“I only had to clean the outside of the book, as the inner pages were so tightly bound that there was no dirt on them,” says conservator Susanne Bretzel of LWL. “The wood also hadn’t warped, so the wax is still intact and the writing itself is easily legible.”
Researchers believe the writings were done by one person, who may not have erased previous texts thoroughly, as some faint impressions remain visible under newer inscriptions. The notebook’s leather cover, adorned with a fleur-de-lis pattern, and its Latin script suggest it belonged to someone of higher social standing.
Researchers aim to learn more about the book’s owner by analyzing its age and the materials used in its construction. Despite its excellent condition, deciphering the text remains a challenge, with some words possibly distorted due to misspellings.
“The text is not easy to decipher, even for experts in the field,” Rüschoff-Parzinger explains. “Individual words are recognizable, but the transcription will take some time, as some words may have been corrupted by incorrect spellings.”
Further clues indicate the toilet might have been luxurious, as it contained silk scraps believed to have been used as toilet paper by the elite.
And here we modern plebs just have wet-wipe fatbergs.
