{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,14]],"date-time":"2026-08-14T18:33:21Z","timestamp":1786732401708,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,14]],"date-time":"2026-08-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1786665600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n                    <jats:title>Introduction\u2013aims<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Ethiopia has developed and preserved its indigenous script, which has played a significant role in shaping the country\u2019s cultural and historical identity. G\u0259\u02c0\u0259z manuscripts represent an important component of this heritage; however, their long-term preservation is threatened by physical deterioration and environmental exposure. This study aimed to assess the preservation status and physical condition of G\u0259\u02c0\u0259z manuscripts at Q\u00e4ran\u01ddyo M\u00e4d\u1e2bane \u02c1Al\u00e4m Church and to identify observable factors associated with their preservation status.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A cross-sectional observational inventory of 71 G\u0259\u02c0\u0259z manuscripts was conducted. Data were analyzed using STATA version 17. Manuscript preservation status was classified into five ordered categories: well-preserved, better condition, good condition, bad condition, and dangerous condition. An ordinal logistic regression model was used to examine associations between observable deterioration indicators and manuscript preservation status.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n                    <jats:title>Results and interpretation<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>71 manuscripts were found at the church, comprising 13 (18.3%) from the fifteenth century, 2 (2.8%) from the sixteenth century, 42 (59.2%) from the seventeenth century, and 14 (19.7%) from the eighteenth century. Moreover, 11.3% of the manuscripts were classified as well-preserved, 26.8% as being in better condition, 31.0% in good condition, 23.9% in bad condition, and 7.0% in dangerous condition. Ordinal logistic regression showed that visible moisture damage, rodent damage, frequent handling, and insect infestation were significantly associated with poorer preservation status (P\u2009\u2264\u20090.001). These findings describe observable patterns and associations rather than causal relationships, highlighting the importance of routine condition assessment, improved storage environments, preventive conservation measures, and careful handling to support the long-term preservation of G\u0259\u02c0\u0259z manuscripts.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0345893","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,14]],"date-time":"2026-08-14T17:55:05Z","timestamp":1786730105000},"page":"e0345893","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Evaluate the status and associated factors of G\u0259\u02c0\u0259z manuscripts heritage preservation: The case of Q\u00e4ran\u01ddyo m\u00e4d\u1e2bane \u02c1al\u00e4m church, northwest Ethiopia"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"21","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4293-4824","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Selomon Afework","family":"Yenesew","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"pone.0345893.ref001","first-page":"85","article-title":"Full-Scale Catalog of the Five Ethiopic Manuscripts in East Gojjam Zone, Central West Ethiopia","volume":"63","author":"S Afework Yenesew","year":"2025","journal-title":"Cat Classif Q"},{"key":"pone.0345893.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.4324\/9781003400288-4","article-title":"Digital mobilisation: A just restitution?: The transfer to Ethiopia of digitised manuscript copies by the British Library","author":"E Derillo","year":"2025","journal-title":"Mobile Heritage. 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