An 800-year-old manuscript containing a lost story about Merlin and King Arthur was recently discovered hidden within the binding of a 16th-century book at Cambridge University Library.

Amélie Deblauwe, the library's chief photographic technician, emphasized the advanced imaging methods that uncovered previously invisible details of the manuscript.

Researchers announced their findings on March 28, 2025, making a digitized version of the manuscript available online for scholars and the public.

This fragment is part of the 'Suite Vulgate du Merlin,' a rare French sequel to the Arthurian legends, with fewer than 40 surviving copies worldwide, each unique due to being handwritten.

The manuscript was misfiled and forgotten for nearly 400 years, having been repurposed as binding material for a property record from Huntingfield Manor in Suffolk.

A multidisciplinary team undertook a digitization project that involved creating high-resolution images, 3D models, and digital reconstructions of the fragment.

Dr. Irène Fabry-Tehranchi, a French specialist at Cambridge, initially misidentified the fragment as a 14th-century tale about Sir Gawain before recognizing its true significance.

The discovery of this manuscript highlights the ongoing relevance of the Merlin and Arthurian legends, furthering interest in medieval manuscripts and their conservation.

Advanced imaging techniques, including multispectral imaging and CT scanning, were utilized to reveal hidden text and structural details without damaging the manuscript.

The manuscript features a narrative where Sir Gawain faces challenges and ultimately sides with King Arthur against external foes, providing insight into Arthur's early reign.

The imaging process involved capturing 49 images with varying light frequencies to expose faded ink traces, making the writing legible for the first time.

The digital results of the project allow unprecedented access to the manuscript, enabling exploration of its content in detail.