FROM BOG TO BLOG; Ancient bible's digital revamp.

Byline: BY ED CARTY

AN ancient bible found in an Irish bog is to be brought to life thanks to modern technology.

Scientists at the National Museum are to create a digital version of the Dark Age manuscript which was recovered from peat bogs in Tipperary in 2006.

Known as the Faddan More Psalter, the 1,200-year-old decorated book was used by monks.

It is being analysed in an attempt to learn more about its origins even though only around 15 per cent of the vellum pages survived.

Now it is hoped the entire book can be recreated using digital technology or re-written in Latin by a calligraphy expert.

The museum's Raghnall O'Floinn said: "We would hope to create a digital version and perhaps a facsimile copy for display.

"Because it is so fragmented it's a problem to create a true copy. What we could do is create our best guess."

Details of the bible's find and preservation will be presented at a lecture in the museum on Thursday.

OLD NEWS

THE world's oldest known Biblical New Testament is the Codex Sinaiticus commissioned by Roman Emperor Constantine in the 4th century AD.

CAPTION(S):

PRESERVED Bible will be recreated by computer mapping