Abstract
We used a robotic-based THz imaging system to investigate the sub-surface structure of an artificially mummified ancient Egyptian human left hand. The results obtained are compared to the results of a conventional CT and a micro-CT scan. Using such a robotic THz system promises new insights into the sub-surface structure of human remains. The depth resolution of the THz images exceeds the resolution of a conventional CT scan and is comparable with a micro-CT scan. The advantage of THz measurements over micro-CT scans is the fact that even comparatively large samples, like complete bodies, can be scanned. These would not fit into a conventional micro-CT scanner.
Highlights
Ancient human remains are very valuable for the study of the evolution of mankind and disease[1,2,3,4]
Using a robotic THz time-domain imaging (TDI) system for the investigation of ancient human remains promises new insights into their sub-surface structure, which is presented in this article
This study was conducted with institutional review board approval (BASEC N° 2017-00260, “Correlative radiological, histological, bacteriological and molecular assessment of modern and ancient embalming methods for human tissue.”) and in accordance with the code of ethics of the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine of the University of Zurich[35], which demands a careful judgment of the appropriateness of any research involving ancient human remains against the applied degree of invasiveness
Summary
Ancient human remains are very valuable for the study of the evolution of mankind and disease[1,2,3,4]. Due to its potential in non-invasive material testing[12,13,14,15] with a depth resolution in the submillimeter range[16,17,18,19], THz TDI has aroused much interest in recent years. THz waves possess very little photon energy They are scattered elastically as well but they do not contain enough energy to ionize an atom[20], which simplifies its application in field studies since no special radio-protection is necessary. By combining a robotic arm with a THz TDS system, it recently became possible to overcome this limitation and to investigate samples of complex www.nature.com/scientificreports/. Using a robotic THz TDI system for the investigation of ancient human remains promises new insights into their sub-surface structure, which is presented in this article. THz TDI imaging data were compared to CT and Micro-CT imaging data for morphological correlation
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