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Possibilities and limitations of the X-ray computed tomography in the investigation of a hoard of coins from the fifteenth century

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Abstract

X-ray 2D imaging and 3D computed tomography are increasingly used for surveying archaeological finds and objects of cultural heritage. As examples of non-destructive methods, they can be used for the inspection of the inner structures of objects without modifying their original form. The contribution deals with the possibilities, limitations and results of a tomographic survey of a uniquely preserved hoard of coins discovered in 2020 near the village of Hradce in southern Bohemia (Czech Republic). The hoard was deposited in a ceramic vessel about 17 cm high and with a diameter of about 15 cm at the widest point. The weight of the hoard is 3.8 kg, and it contains more than 5000 coins dating back to the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. A small number of coins are still wrapped in fabric since the fifteenth century. The contents of this fabric package in terms of the amount and type of present coins have been identified by X-ray tomography.

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Data Availability Statement

This manuscript has associated data in a data repository. [Authors’ comment: The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.]

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Acknowledgements

The financial support of the project of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic: Mobile device devoted to imaging and analysis of the layered paintings and polychromy of the works of old art (DG18P02OVV006) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Heritage Science, Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prosecká 809/76, 190 00, Prague 9, Czech Republic

    Ivana Kumpová & Michal Vopálenský

  2. Institute of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, The University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Branišovská 1645/31a, 370 05, České Budějovice 2, Czech Republic

    Jan John

Authors
  1. Ivana Kumpová
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  2. Michal Vopálenský
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Correspondence to Ivana Kumpová.

Additional information

Focus Point on Scientific Research in Cultural Heritage 2022. Guest editors: L. Bellot-Gurlet, D. Bersani, A.-S. Le Hô, D. Neff, L. Robinet, A. Tournié.

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Kumpová, I., Vopálenský, M. & John, J. Possibilities and limitations of the X-ray computed tomography in the investigation of a hoard of coins from the fifteenth century. Eur. Phys. J. Plus 138, 338 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-023-03898-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-023-03898-2

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