How can ink and parchment reveal that a document is a forgery?

In the study of diplomatics, the scientific examination of ink and parchment is essential for identifying forged documents. A document is often proven spurious if these materials cannot be traced to the period they claim to represent.1

Technical Analysis

Modern scientific techniques allow examiners to determine the age of a document by analyzing the chemical composition of its components:

• Ink Analysis: Examiners can uncover changes in the chemical composition of ink that occur over time. Because many modern pigments were unknown in earlier eras, chemical analysis can reveal the presence of materials that are anachronistic to the document's purported date.23
• Parchment and Paper: Materials of recent animal or vegetable origin can be detected because they fluoresce brightly under ultraviolet light.4
• Physical Inspection: Microscopic examination can reveal if aging has been artificially induced. Forgers often struggle to replicate the genuine deterioration found in authentic ancient materials.3

While a skillful forger may attempt to secure period-appropriate materials, scientific inspection remains a powerful tool in exposing inconsistencies that betray a document's true origin.14