Discovery of 1,300-Year-Old Manuscript in Rome Reveals England's Earliest Poem
A medieval manuscript, long thought lost, has been discovered in the National Central Library of Rome, revealing one of the earliest surviving copies of Caedmon’s Hymn. This poem, composed over 1,300 years ago, is embedded within a Latin text and was identified by researchers from Trinity College Dublin. The manuscript, dating from between 800 and 830, is now recognized as the third-oldest version of Caedmon’s Hymn, following copies in Cambridge and St. Petersburg. Unlike older versions, this manuscript integrates the Old English poem directly within the Latin text, providing new evidence of the value placed on English verse by early medieval readers. The discovery was detailed in the journal Early Medieval England and its Neighbours, highlighting its contribution to understanding early English literature. 
