The level of palaeographical activity is ever increasing, I'm very glad to say, and the latest offering is a new Network for the Study of Caroline Minuscule, run in conjunction with the Cambridge Medieval Palaeography Workshop. The group has issued a Call for Papers for its inaugural colloquium on 23 May 2014. I quote from the website:
As publication approaches for the final volume of Bernhard Bischoff’s ‘Katalog der festländischen Handschriften des neunten Jahrhunderts’, early medieval historians and palaeographers must consider the significance of this work as well as the research that it enables on the origins, development, and varieties of Caroline minuscule. In recognition of this landmark publication and in hopes of building upon it, we are co-ordinating a project on the study of Caroline minuscule that aims to add to the great advances of the past generation of scholarship.
Our first major event is a colloquium to be held on 23 May in Cambridge. It will address the current state of research on Caroline minuscule from the late eighth to the tenth centuries and explore questions related to studying the script today, including but not limited to:
the emergence and development of Caroline minuscule and its varieties
peculiar features of script or style in certain manuscripts or groups of manuscripts
comparisons between different codices, regions, scriptoria or scribes
proposals for new palaeographical tools, methods or terminology
the means and challenges of dating and localising manuscripts written in Caroline minuscule
opportunities for the palaeography of Caroline minuscule in the digital age
useful but neglected aspects of Bischoff’s research
Paper proposals are now open. These should be sent to Anna Dorofeeva or Zachary Guiliano as pdfs of c. 500 words, together with a brief CV (one A4 page). The deadline is 31 March but early submission is strongly encouraged. Small bursaries may be available for travel and accommodation expenses, and responses from postgraduates and in languages other than English are especially welcome.
In conjunction with this, we aim to create a more permanent network of scholars directly interested in joint study of the development of Caroline minuscule and in developing new tools and approaches for the advancement of the field. To express your interest, please fill out the form on the contact us page.
Unfortunately I am unable to attend myself, but I very much wish I could.
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