Medical imaging applied to heritage

Abstract

The use of imaging has transformed the study of cultural heritage artefacts in the same way that medical imaging has transformed medicine. X-ray-based techniques are common in both medical and heritage imaging. Optical imaging, including scientific photography and spectral imaging techniques, is also common in both domains. Some common medical imaging methods such as ultrasound and MRI have not yet found routine application in heritage, whereas other methods such as imaging with charged and uncharged particles and 3D surface imaging are more common in heritage. Here, we review the field of heritage imaging from the point of view of medical imaging and include some classic challenges of heritage imaging such as reading the text on burnt scrolls, identifying underdrawings in paintings, and CT scanning of mummies, an ancient calculating device and sealed documents. We show how hyperspectral imaging can offer insight into the drawing techniques of Leonardo da Vinci and explain how laparoscopy has identified the method of construction of a 500-year-old pop-up anatomical text book.

Figure 1.

(a) the initial X-ray image of the Ghent alterpiece showing contributions from front and back surfaces; (b) corresponding colour photographs from each side-of the panel (c) reconstructed X-ray images showing separation of the front and back surfaces. Cropped from Figure 5 in Sabetsarvestani et al which is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Figure 2.

Recovered text from an intact Herculaneum scroll, with the Greek letter assigned to each image. Cropped from Figure 3 in Bukreeva et al which is licenced under CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Figure 3.

(a) is a photograph of Fragment A, the largest fragment of the Antikythera Mechanism (from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antikythera_mechanism, licensed under CC BY 2.5). (b) shows one X-ray CT projection of the Mechanism; (c) shows one reconstructed gearwheel; (d) shows reconstructed text and its interpretation (b, c and d are cropped from Pakzad et al and are licensed under CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses).

Figure 4.

The image on the left shows a silverpoint drawing by Leonardo Da Vinci under room lighting and that on the right is the same drawing, illuminated with ultraviolet light with a red filter. Royal Collection Trust / ^© His Majesty King Charles III 2023 / Cerys Jones.

Figure 5.

One frame from a laparoscopy video showing parchment support beneath the pop-up flaps of De humanis corporis fabrica libri septem by Vesalius (https://doi.org/10.5522/04/8224085.v1). The video is licenced under CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).