Ancient, new and artificially aged parchments were investigated with both differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TGA). Criteria to define a quantitative ranking of the damage experienced by the bulk collagen of historical parchments were assessed. A damage-related correlation was found between the collagen denaturation temperature and the moisture content of the parchment. Qualitative rules for the evaluation of the damage at the nano-and mesoscopic level were achieved on the basis of peculiarities of the shape and width of the DSC signals and confirmed by small angle X-ray scattering patterns. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.