Palaeography

Palaeography (or paleography) is the study of ancient written documents and inscriptions. Sometimes the term is also used for ancient writing itself.

Origin
From Greek palaio- 'old' and -graphía 'writing'. Attested in English since the early 19th century, perhaps coined by B. de Montfaucon (1708).

Reference

 * de Montfaucon, B. 1708. Palæographia Græca.

Other languages

 * German Paläografie