Ancient 800‑Year‑Old Notebook Unearthed in Paderborn Latrine

Published on 21 June 2026 at 12:30 GMT+2

The archaeological investigation was conducted as part of the construction of a new administrative building in Paderborn, in the German state of North Rhine‑Westphalia. During the works, archaeologists, supervised by the Westphalia‑Lippe Regional Association (LWL), uncovered a medieval notebook within one of five exposed latrines.

Dr Barbara Rüschoff‑Parzinger, head of cultural affairs at the LWL, emphasized that the discovery is exceptional: “Although it may seem surprising, latrines frequently yield rich archaeological material.”

The artifact, dating to approximately 700–800 years ago, measures roughly 10 cm by 7.5 cm. It comprises wooden tablets coated with wax and encased in a leather cover stamped with a lily motif. In the medieval period, notes were inscribed on the wax with a stylus and could later be erased and rewritten.

The notebook contains ten pages, eight of which bear writing on both sides. Analyses indicate that the text is in Latin and was penned by a single hand.

In medieval times, Paderborn’s centre was predominantly inhabited by affluent citizens and merchants. Merchants, among the few literate segments of society, were among the few who could read and write.

Silk probably used as toilet paper

Remnants of silk fabric found at the site suggest the users may have employed silk as a form of toilet paper, indicating their high social standing.

Paradoxically, the notebook’s remarkable preservation resulted from its discard context: the hermetically sealed, damp, low‑oxygen environment of the latrine slowed organic decay.

LWL restorer Susanne Bretzel noted that the artifact initially seemed unremarkable: “Encased in a clump of wet soil and barely recognizable, the object only became apparent during cleaning in our Münster restoration workshop,” she explained. “Even after centuries underground, the latrine find retained a distinctly unpleasant odor.”

The inner pages were tightly compressed, shielding the wax layers from dirt and deformation. According to Bretzel, the wooden tablets remained unwavering, ensuring that the writing remains easily legible.

Conservation efforts are projected to last up to one year. Researchers are presently analyzing the object’s materials, including its wax, any resin traces, pigments, and the wood species used. Until analysis concludes, the organic components will be stored in distilled water.

Upon completion of the analyses, the research team intends to decode the notebook’s contents.

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