SubsidieMeestersThe Lost Manuscripts of Medieval Europe: Modelling the Transmission of Texts
LostMa investigates the evolution of human cultures through the transmission of written artefacts, using AI and complexity science to analyze and simulate textual survival and loss.
Projectdetails
Introduction
LostMa aims at understanding how human cultures are constituted and evolve, through the question of the transmission of written cultural artefacts. It strives to establish in what measure the transmission (and subsequent preservation or loss) of written artefacts, texts, and ideas deviates from pure chance. If it deviates, the project seeks to determine by how much and why it does.
Methodology
To achieve this, the project will analyse the way that texts in manuscript form were copied, transformed, or destroyed. This analysis will be conducted in a manner similar to the evolution of living organisms or language variants, through processes of:
- Innovation/mutation
- Fixation
- Extinction
As such, the goal of this project is not only to understand the processes behind the transmission of texts but also to grasp the extent to which humans are the actors of the transmission of their own culture. Additionally, it will explore how much the survival of texts or the constitution of cultural canons are due to chance.
Context
If this notion may seem provocative to humanities researchers, evolutionary biologists have long discovered the role of random drift in the survival or extinction of genetic traits and species.
Investigation Approach
To investigate this question, this project will attempt a paradigm shift in philological methods by combining:
- Artificial intelligence
- Complexity science
- Philological expertise
Stochastic birth-and-death processes and computer multi-agent simulations will be used to emulate the process of textual transmission.
Case Study
A case study will focus on chivalric literature in the European context. Supported by deep learning methods, large-scale data collection will be made on a corpus of 4000 documents in Romance, Germanic, and Celtic languages, with a full-text zoom on approximately 1000 Old French manuscripts.
Data Analysis
The data collected will provide observable values to be compared to simulation results. This comparison aims to:
- Measure deviations from chance
- Make inferences on non-observable values such as loss/survival rates of works and manuscripts
- Understand the dynamics at work behind the transmission of texts
Financiële details & Tijdlijn
Financiële details
| Subsidiebedrag | € 1.499.235 |
| Totale projectbegroting | € 1.499.235 |
Tijdlijn
| Startdatum | 1-1-2024 |
| Einddatum | 31-12-2028 |
| Subsidiejaar | 2024 |
Partners & Locaties
Projectpartners
- ECOLE NATIONALE DES CHARTESpenvoerder
Land(en)
Vergelijkbare projecten binnen European Research Council
| Project | Regeling | Bedrag | Jaar | Actie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Post-National Reconceptions of European Literary History: A Mixed-Method Approach to a Late Medieval Text TraditionThe Post-REALM project aims to revolutionize medieval literature studies by digitally analyzing 26 versions of 'Floire and Blancheflor' to uncover cross-lingual text traditions and their dissemination. | ERC Consolid... | € 1.873.963 | 2023 | Details |
Building an AI-tool to facilitate the integration, accessibility, and usability of heterogeneous cultural heritage data on medieval manuscripts.ManuscriptAI aims to integrate and enhance access to medieval manuscript data using machine learning, promoting digital preservation and inclusivity in Europe's cultural heritage narrative. | ERC Proof of... | € 150.000 | 2024 | Details |
Migrations of Textual and Scribal Traditions via Large-Scale Computational Analysis of Medieval Manuscripts in Hebrew ScriptMIDRASH aims to develop an interdisciplinary methodology using advanced technologies to study and reconstruct medieval Hebrew manuscripts, enhancing understanding of Jewish literary culture and its historical significance. | ERC Synergy ... | € 10.296.259 | 2023 | Details |
Linguistic traces: low-frequency forms as evidence of language and population historyThis project aims to reconstruct early European languages by analyzing low-frequency linguistic variants in historical texts, integrating philology with deep learning to uncover cultural interactions. | ERC Advanced... | € 2.498.135 | 2025 | Details |
Manuscript Culture in the Age of PrintThe PRIMA project aims to redefine Early Modern Europe's manuscript culture by uncovering its significance in literature and science, challenging the dominance of print through innovative research methods. | ERC Advanced... | € 2.499.369 | 2024 | Details |
Post-National Reconceptions of European Literary History: A Mixed-Method Approach to a Late Medieval Text Tradition
The Post-REALM project aims to revolutionize medieval literature studies by digitally analyzing 26 versions of 'Floire and Blancheflor' to uncover cross-lingual text traditions and their dissemination.
Building an AI-tool to facilitate the integration, accessibility, and usability of heterogeneous cultural heritage data on medieval manuscripts.
ManuscriptAI aims to integrate and enhance access to medieval manuscript data using machine learning, promoting digital preservation and inclusivity in Europe's cultural heritage narrative.
Migrations of Textual and Scribal Traditions via Large-Scale Computational Analysis of Medieval Manuscripts in Hebrew Script
MIDRASH aims to develop an interdisciplinary methodology using advanced technologies to study and reconstruct medieval Hebrew manuscripts, enhancing understanding of Jewish literary culture and its historical significance.
Linguistic traces: low-frequency forms as evidence of language and population history
This project aims to reconstruct early European languages by analyzing low-frequency linguistic variants in historical texts, integrating philology with deep learning to uncover cultural interactions.
Manuscript Culture in the Age of Print
The PRIMA project aims to redefine Early Modern Europe's manuscript culture by uncovering its significance in literature and science, challenging the dominance of print through innovative research methods.