Fragmentology: A Geniza Manifesto

By using the metaphor of ceramic sherds as manuscript fragments, this article proposes a fresh look at the way we think about geniza fragments. Starting with a sketch of the history of the various Cairo Geniza databases, the author discusses the problems of rendering dating in digital terms. Then, the essay turns to the dispersal of manuscript collections and the problem of partage—dividing archaeological finds among the institutions involved in excavating them—in the context of current museum collections. The author uses this overview as a springboard to discuss how machine learning can help to join fragments but at the same time introduces inherent bias. The essay concludes by highlighting the paradox that fragmentation enables digital de-siloing and human collaboration.