RESEARCHERS lead by an Aberystwyth University academic are set to uncover the forensic secrets of Britain’s historic wax seals.

The research project, called Imprint, will examine fingerprints and palm prints left behind on the wax seals of documents dating from the 12th to the 14th centuries.

The seals, attached to documents such as land transactions, business contracts, and financial exchanges were the medieval equivalents of modern-day signatures and credit cards.

The three-year study is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and led by Dr Elizabeth New from Aberystwyth University and co-investigator Professor Philippa Hoskin from the University of Lincoln.

They will work with historical materials in the cathedrals of Exeter, Hereford and Lincoln, the National Library of Wales and Westminster Abbey.

See next week’s south editions for the full story