Parchment is the writing basis, which was previously acquired from scrubbed animal skins. The name derives from the city of Pergamum in Asia Minor, where it first appeared in the late antiquity. Parchment replaced less durable papyrus, which was used particularly in Egypt and elsewhere in that area.

Parchment was usually made of goat, sheep, calf or donkey skins. Skins were firstly covered with alkaline (basis) solution to remove hair and remains of meat. Skins were then stretched over special frames and dried before being smoothed out and cut into suitable pieces.

Parchment served as common basis for ink writing until 15 century when it was gradually replaced by paper. Single parchment was often used several times because it was expensive and difficult to make. To be reused, previous text had to be brushed or scratched off. Parchment that was used several times was called ‘palimsest’ from the Greek word for scratching.

With modern methods (such as photographic imaging using ultra-violet light) ‘palimpsests’ can be read again.