Use, Custody, and Memory of the Writings at Santa María de Penamaior, Lugo (12th-19th centuries)

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the use, storage, and vicissitudes of medieval documents (12th-13th centuries) currently preserved in the National Historical Archive (Madrid, Spain), while in custody at the Cistercian abbey of Santa María de Penamaior (Lugo, Spain), which was exclaustrated during the 19th century disentailment. To this end, we will examine the practices and resources employed for the selection, control, preservation, and memory of this written heritage within the monastic archive, utilizing subsequent memory instruments – several modern tumbos – as well as material traces of installation – including folding and tying systems – and markers of identification and use – such as marginal and dorsal notes – present in the documents under analysis. This will not only allow us to reconstruct the subsequent history of the documentation from Santa María de Penamaior, but also to recover documents lost throughout history, spanning the medieval, modern and contemporary periods.