800-year-old notebook with ‘rather unpleasant odor’ found in medieval German toilet
Archaeologists have unearthed a perfectly preserved wood and wax notebook in a leather satchel from a medieval latrine in Germany. The 10-page notebook, which features Latin cursive writing, was likely left behind by a medieval merchant nearly 800 years ago – perhaps while wiping with silk toilet paper.
The book and satchel were discovered in Paderborn, northern Germany, during the construction of a new building, according to a translated May 12 document. statement of the Westphalia-Lippe Regional Association (LWL). Archaeologists excavated five sealed and airtight medieval latrines, which preserved a number of organic artifacts that would have otherwise decayed.
“Even after so many centuries in the ground, the uncovered latrines still gave off a rather unpleasant odor,” Susanne Pretzela restaurateur at LWL, said in the release.
The small notebook measures approximately 3.4 by 2.2 inches (8.6 by 5.5 centimeters) and was kept in a slightly larger leather case decorated with a fleur-de-lis motif. Eight pages of the wooden notebook are double-sided and two pages are single-sided; all contained wax that could be written on with a stylus.
Inside the notebook, experts found numerous lines of cursive Latin text, some of which had been written on top of other lines and in different directions, making translation difficult.
“Individual words are recognizable, but transcription will take some time as some words may have been corrupted by incorrect spelling,” Barbara Rüschoff-Parzingerarchaeologist and head of cultural affairs at LWL, said in the release. Based on the characteristics of the writing, the book was used between the 13th and late 14th centuries.
The tablet was discovered in a leather satchel decorated with fleur-de-lis.
(Image credit: S. Bretzel/Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL))
The leather case is also under consideration. The embossed fleur-de-lis may suggest that the book was a prized possession of a member of society’s elite, as the lily was a symbol of royal power and divine favor in the Middle Ages, according to the release.
But the owner of the cellphone remains a mystery. “It may be that a merchant from Paderborn was the author, noting down business transactions and recording his thoughts.” Sveva Gaïsaid city archaeologist LWL of Paderborn in the release. Unlike most people of that era, traders were educated and could read and write, which placed them among the elite of society, Gai said.
Other objects found in the latrine included barrels, a knife, stoneware pottery, pieces of baskets and fragments of silk fabric. These discoveries help confirm the date of the book between the 13th and 14th centuries and the elite status of the book’s author.
Restorer Susanne Bretzel holds the little wax booklet.
(Image credit: E. Daood/Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL))
“The remains of silk fabrics from the latrines were partially torn into rectangular pieces, some extremely finely woven and decorated,” Bretzel explained. “Maybe it was used as toilet paper after the once elegant fabric was discarded.
Further investigation could identify the clumsy trader who accidentally flushed his laptop down the toilet.
“As soon as these latrines can be traced to a specific plot of land, archival research could be used to try to identify the inhabitants of that plot of land. Then, in the best case scenario, it would be possible to link the wax tablet to the name of a specific person,” Gai said.
The entire conservation process could take up to a year, Bretzel said, after which the notebook and case will be exhibited at the LWL Museum in Paderborn.
See if you know what these mysterious artifacts are with our Quiz on archaeological fragments!
