Manuscrito antiguo

Ancient book

Fragments of an ancient manuscript found in an Irish bog are being hailed as one of the most significant discoveries in archaeology for decades.

This report from James Helm in Dublin:

Archaeologists are amazed that such a fragile ancient document could have survived for so long and that it was then discovered as it could so easily have been overlooked or destroyed.

It was spotted by a construction worker who was using a shovel to dig into a peat bog. Crucially, after it was uncovered, the landowner placed damp soil over it to protect the book, which was written on vellum.

Initial checks suggest that the book of psalms was written around 800 AD at a time of Viking attacks on Ireland. A fragment of Psalm 83 is legiblebut it will take much longer to analyse the whole manuscript.

Pat Wallace, the director of the National Museum of Ireland, called the first discovery of an early medieval document in two centuries "a miracle find."

James Helm, BBC, Dublin

VOCABULARY

fragile
frágil

survived
sobrevivió

overlooked
pasado por alto, en este caso, el manuscrito podría fácilmente haber sido pasado por alto

spotted
descubierto

a peat bog
ciénaga

vellum
papel de vitela, de cuero

Initial checks suggest
la primera inspección o el primer examen sugiere

fragment
fragmento

miracle
milagro, en este caso, un descubrimiento milagroso o extraordinario

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