Strange “hairy” covers of books in medieval Europe were made from seal skin obtained from Viking descendants, a new study has found.

DNA sequencing confirmed the finding, further identifying harbor seal and harp seal skins ... were rarely depicted in European Medieval art; bestiaries simply referred to the creature as a ...

Historians were surprised when analyses revealed Catholic monks used pinniped hides for the protective outer layer on some ...

They were amazed to find that the books had been bound in the skins of harp seals, harbor seals ... The creatures were rarely depicted in medieval art, and during this period, there was no ...

Public domain. For nearly forty years, Early Drama, Art, and Music (EDAM) has established a reputation for publishing specialized, high-quality scholarship through Medieval Institute Publications. The ...

They were surprised to learn the books were bound in the skins of harbor seals ... These marine mammals were rarely depicted in medieval art or coats of arms, and there was no French word for ...