The research work presented in this thesis aims at demonstrating how technology can contribute in a novel and significant way to the archaeological research by searching for innovative scientific solutions to answer specific questions springing from the realm of humanities. The specific target of this work is to define the guidelines for the production of submillimetric 3D virtual reconstructions of objects made of metal and hard stone contained inside ancient Egyptian mummies, with the purpose of applying this study to the Kha mummy ( Museo Egizio of Turin) in the future. The main challenge is the need to create such virtual reconstruction without removing the bandages and without causing any direct or indirect damage to the object. In particular, this thesis describes the decision-making process leading to the choice of the instrument, that is, x-ray computed tomography, of its parameters and of the type of sample to be examined in order to perform a preliminary test and complete a feasibility study, before applying the process to an actual mummy. In this way, tomographic scans were performed with an industrial experimental system, but designed according to the traditional medical configuration called "gantry", on three samples, containing high density objects, that had been mummified for this specific purpose. The tomograph that has been chosen was characterized by an industrial X-ray source and detector, coupled with a medical gantry structure. This configuration allows to calibrate high voltages and current values to identify the quantity of high-energy photons which can pass through the metal objects contained inside the mummy. Moreover, the gantry structure allows to avoid any kind of geometrical limitation, as typical industrial tomographs consist of small, closed “boxes” meant to host objects a few tens of centimeters wide. The analysis of the three samples was performed primarily in order to obtain information regarding the parameters necessary for the production of digital reconstruction. In parallel, considering the large amount of energy compared to the common medical CT, the opportunity was taken in order to verify also the safety of the historical objects. The chance was thus used to monitor the temperature trend inside and on the surface of the samples. This study was then completed with the analysis of the absorbed dose. In particular, the results have been compared with literature and the Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs). In this way it will be possible to minimize the effects of ionization on the different tissues and on the ancient DNA molecules. Once this feasibility study has been completed, it will be possible to apply this technique to actual mummies and obtain 3D models of similarly invisible high-density archaeological finds not visible by eye. This will lead to new and more detailed information on the material culture of Ancient Egypt within the ethical principle of respecting the dead and their funerary beliefs.
Il lavoro di ricerca presentato in questa tesi ha l'obiettivo di dimostrare come la tecnologia possa contribuire in modo nuovo e significativo alla ricerca archeologica, ricercando soluzioni scientifiche innovative per rispondere a domande specifiche che scaturiscono dall'ambito delle scienze umane. L'obiettivo specifico di questo lavoro è definire le linee guida per la creazione di ricostruzioni virtuali 3D submillimetriche di oggetti in metallo e pietra dura contenuti all'interno di antiche mummie egizie, con lo scopo di applicare in futuro questo studio alla mummia di Kha (Museo Egizio di Torino). La sfida principale è la necessità di creare tale ricostruzione virtuale senza rimuovere le bende e senza causare danni diretti o indiretti all'oggetto. In particolare, questa tesi descrive il processo decisionale che ha portato alla scelta dello strumento, ovvero la tomografia computerizzata a raggi X, dei suoi parametri e del tipo di campione da esaminare per effettuare un test preliminare e completare uno studio di fattibilità, prima di applicare il processo a una mummia reale. In questo modo, sono state eseguite scansioni tomografiche con un sistema sperimentale industriale, ma progettato secondo la configurazione medica tradizionale chiamata "gantry", su tre campioni, contenenti oggetti ad alta densità, che erano stati mummificati per questo scopo specifico. Il tomografo scelto è caratterizzato da una sorgente e da un rivelatore di raggi X di tipo industriale, accoppiati a una struttura gantry di tipo medico. Questa configurazione permette di calibrare alti valori di tensione e corrente per identificare la quantità di fotoni necessaria ad attraversare gli oggetti metallici contenuti nella mummia. Inoltre, la struttura a gantry permette di evitare qualsiasi tipo di limitazione geometrica, dato che i tipici tomografi industriali sono costituiti da piccole camere di lavoro chiuse, destinate a ospitare oggetti larghi poche decine di centimetri. L'analisi dei tre campioni è stata eseguita principalmente per ottenere informazioni sui parametri necessari per la produzione delle ricostruzioni digitali. Parallelamente, vista la grande quantità di energia rispetto alla comune TAC medica, si è colta l'occasione per verificare anche la sicurezza degli oggetti storici. Si è così sfruttata l'occasione per monitorare l'andamento della temperatura all'interno e sulla superficie dei campioni. Questo studio è stato poi completato con l'analisi della dose assorbita. In particolare, i risultati sono stati confrontati con la letteratura e con i livelli diagnostici di riferimento. In questo modo sarà possibile minimizzare gli effetti della ionizzazione sui diversi tessuti e sulle antiche molecole di DNA. Una volta completato questo studio di fattibilità, sarà possibile applicare questa tecnica a mummie reali e ottenere modelli 3D di reperti archeologici ad alta densità non visibili ad occhio nudo. Ciò porterà a nuove e più dettagliate informazioni sulla cultura materiale dell'Antico Egitto, nel rispetto del principio etico del rispetto dei morti e delle loro credenze funerarie.
Engineering Archaeological Research: Submillimetric X-Ray CT Scan of Ancient Egyptian Mummies
Galli, Simone
2022/2023
Abstract
The research work presented in this thesis aims at demonstrating how technology can contribute in a novel and significant way to the archaeological research by searching for innovative scientific solutions to answer specific questions springing from the realm of humanities. The specific target of this work is to define the guidelines for the production of submillimetric 3D virtual reconstructions of objects made of metal and hard stone contained inside ancient Egyptian mummies, with the purpose of applying this study to the Kha mummy ( Museo Egizio of Turin) in the future. The main challenge is the need to create such virtual reconstruction without removing the bandages and without causing any direct or indirect damage to the object. In particular, this thesis describes the decision-making process leading to the choice of the instrument, that is, x-ray computed tomography, of its parameters and of the type of sample to be examined in order to perform a preliminary test and complete a feasibility study, before applying the process to an actual mummy. In this way, tomographic scans were performed with an industrial experimental system, but designed according to the traditional medical configuration called "gantry", on three samples, containing high density objects, that had been mummified for this specific purpose. The tomograph that has been chosen was characterized by an industrial X-ray source and detector, coupled with a medical gantry structure. This configuration allows to calibrate high voltages and current values to identify the quantity of high-energy photons which can pass through the metal objects contained inside the mummy. Moreover, the gantry structure allows to avoid any kind of geometrical limitation, as typical industrial tomographs consist of small, closed “boxes” meant to host objects a few tens of centimeters wide. The analysis of the three samples was performed primarily in order to obtain information regarding the parameters necessary for the production of digital reconstruction. In parallel, considering the large amount of energy compared to the common medical CT, the opportunity was taken in order to verify also the safety of the historical objects. The chance was thus used to monitor the temperature trend inside and on the surface of the samples. This study was then completed with the analysis of the absorbed dose. In particular, the results have been compared with literature and the Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs). In this way it will be possible to minimize the effects of ionization on the different tissues and on the ancient DNA molecules. Once this feasibility study has been completed, it will be possible to apply this technique to actual mummies and obtain 3D models of similarly invisible high-density archaeological finds not visible by eye. This will lead to new and more detailed information on the material culture of Ancient Egypt within the ethical principle of respecting the dead and their funerary beliefs.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/203299