Actually, it’s not quite as spectacular as that: these ‘new discoveries’ are capitularies handmade by visitors at the Capitularia Project’s stand on the Academy Day research trail. The results are certainly impressive, though. But first things first…

From ‘Moin’ to ‘Meme’

On 8 September 2026, the German Academies invited to this year’s Academies’ Day in Göttingen under the theme ‘From “Moin” to “meme”. Language shapes society’. Between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm, the Adam-von-Trott Hall was transformed into a research trail, where around 20 academy and infrastructure projects provided insights into their work via stands, interactive stations and one-to-one discussions. The topics ranged from historical written records, through dialects and sign languages, to the use of digital methods and artificial intelligence in language research – in short, language in its entirety, from regional forms of expression to digital modes of communication, and the question of how it shapes reality, identity and social cohesion. The evening’s festivities included a literary and musical programme featuring Jan Wagner and Jehona Kicaj in the  auditorium, followed by a reception.

The Capitularia project was also represented with its own stand: Under the title ‘Rogue Popes in Taverns? What medieval copyists did to the decrees of the Frankish rulers’, Britta Mischke and Daniela Schulz explained how supposedly incorrectly transcribed letters could turn ‘Pope Gelasius’ into a ‘rogue pope’ (scelus) – and how it is only through scholarly editions that such interventions in the textual tradition – sometimes unintentional, sometimes entirely deliberate – become visible at all.

From Transcription Errors to Editions

There was considerable interest in these issues. Many visitors wanted to know how capitularies have been transmitted, what role copyists played in this process, and how the editors distinguish between different manuscript variants. Some were also very curious about the technical side of the project: how are medieval manuscripts used to produce an edition suitable for scholarly use? And how does a hybrid edition, which combines printed and digital formats, work?

DIY Capitularies

The opportunity to create one’s own capitulary proved particularly popular. Using extracts from the extant manuscript tradition, which visitors could compile themselves, numerous individual versions of medieval royal decrees were produced throughout the day. The results were, of course, documented – after all, we wouldn’t want the newly discovered Göttingen capitularies to simply disappear again! The hands-on station not only offered an accessible introduction to medieval legal culture, but also provided plenty of opportunities for discussion about legal language and its formulaic nature.

Good neighbors: The Formation of Europe and Text+

It was also particularly nice to be situated next to two associated projects. Right next to Capitularia, the project ‘The Formation of Europe’ showcased its work. This provided a welcome opportunity to exchange views on shared research questions and methodologies. On the other side, Text+ – a research data infrastructure with which the Capitularia project is also closely linked and in which all German academies participate – was represented. Here, visitors were able to gain an insight into current issues surrounding research data management and infrastructures. For us, this physical proximity led to professional exchange – not least on how to ensure that research data in the humanities remains accessible and reusable in the long term.

Active exchange – at the stand, amongst the projects and far beyond the hall

At the stand, visitors of all ages ‘leafed through’ examples of digitised manuscripts and the ‘errors’ or variants they contained, learnt about the project and its workflows from the detailed posters, had the pitfalls of medieval copying practices explained to them, and joined in discussions on why an edition of legal texts must achieve far more than simply reproducing the text. It was particularly pleasing to see such a high level of curiosity even beyond the immediate specialist audience. Especially the large number of interested students and school pupils, who approached us – in some cases – with surprisingly specific questions about the content and the transmission of the capitularies is definitely noteworthy. Many conversations unfolded with people who had never heard of capitularies before, but who ultimately asked remarkably informed questions about manuscript transmission, scribal errors and digital editions. The combination of traditional editorial work with digital methods and technical processes proved to be a particularly interesting topic of discussion.

Bottom line

Academy Day 2026 demonstrated just how much curiosity and a desire for dialogue arise when research in the humanities and beyond brings its findings out of the ivory tower and into the heart of the community. For us, it was a day full of stimulating encounters – with an interested public, with partner projects and, if you like, with a few very recently ‘rediscovered’ capitularies, which, whilst lacking in source-critical value, are certainly great fun.

We would like to extend our warmest thanks to the organisers at the Union of German Academies of Sciences and Humanities for hosting the event, and we are already looking forward to future editions of the Academies’ Day!

 

Header image created with the help of chatGPT.