Cataloguing stratification in Ethiopian manuscripts: nature and role of codicological units

This article explores the stratification and cataloguing of Ethiopian manuscripts, focusing on the concept and function of codicological units, highlighting the codex as both a textual and material artifact, emphasizing its layered historical development. The study analyses 98 manuscripts and 118 codicological units from Italian collections, distinguishing between unitary, miscellaneous, and composite codices. Through case studies, we illustrate how codicological analysis—especially the identification of distinct production units—helps reconstruct the manuscripts’ complex histories. The article underscores codicology’s role as an analytical and historical discipline essential for understanding manuscript heritage.