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X-ray computed tomography to study archaeological clay and wood artefacts at Lilybaeum

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Abstract

Since 2018, a scientific research project, the “Lilybaeum Project”, is being carried out by a collaboration of physicists and archaeologists. The goal is to apply forefront analysis techniques to the investigation of archaeological artefacts, both in situ and in the laboratory. The first case study presented in this paper concerns the original investigation through X-ray computed tomography of a collection of objects from the Regional Archaeological Museum of Lilybaeum, in Marsala, Italy. In addition to a very significant collection of clay jars mostly from children’s graves of the ancient Lilybaeum necropolis, an unprecedented analysis of wooden planks belonging to the only existing wreck of a Punic Ship kept in the Museum is presented.

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Availability of data and material

The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author.

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].

Notes

  1. However, care should be taken when interpreting false-colour images: the applied contrast enhancement transforms tiny differences in grey levels into significant colour variations. This is the case for the base of all the vases presented herein. The clay used is the same as elsewhere in the body of the vase, but a known tomographic effect called “beam hardening” (which depends on the overall thickness of the material crossed by the beam during the whole measurement) makes the base appear darker. The transformation from grey scale to false-colour scale highly enhances this effect, turning the colour into dark purple which may induce to wrongly interpret the clay as less absorbing than it actually is.

  2. A lateral spout is actually present in the pig-shaped bottle studied herein (see Fig. 12a later on).

  3. The acquisition parameters, in this case only, were slightly different: 110 kV (instead of 130) voltage, 5 fps (instead of 7) frame rate.

  4. This results from the observed u-shaped cross section of the striations, the absence of any directionality in the traces and the fact that the depth of the impression is deeper at the apex of the toes' convexity.

  5. The presence of metal objects in the scan field can lead to severe streaking effects. They occur because the high density of metals gives rise to over range values in attenuation profiles. Generally, various interpolation techniques are used to substitute these over range values, so reducing the streaking effects and improving the quality of tomographic images.

  6. Expertise provided by P. Martin (Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de Genève).

  7. This would be also consistent with the fact that actual nails are longer (at least 40 mm) and have more domed heads [6].

  8. Several elements will have to be taken into account in this regard: the so-called detached tack heads, the so-called headless tacks or brads inserted in the planking and the traces of tacks in the lead sheet, some of which are not pierced in their centre.

  9. The inclination of the mortises may have some relevance in the fragment positioning hypotheses, as well as the distance between mortises, that—despite a certain variability—in other parts of the hull is typically around 4 cm. Notice that the distance between mortises for the two fragments (7 cm for Fragment 1 versus 4.2 cm for Fragment 2) could also be due to their different species of timbers or even to a default in the wood (for the anomalous 7 cm distance).

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Enrica Tagliamonte and Giulia Buono for interesting and fruitful discussions concerning the manufacturing of the clay artefacts. We are also indebted to Pascal Martin who has kindly provided his expertise concerning the analysis of the woods. Finally, we would like to thank the then Director of the Polo Museale of the Province of Trapani, Luigi Biondo, for his enthusiasm in promoting the successful debut in 2018 of the “Lilybaeum Project” at the Regional Archaeological Museum of Marsala.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche “Enrico Fermi”, Roma, Italy

    F. Albertin, L. E. Baumer, M. Bettuzzi, R. Brancaccio, F. Casali, L. Cifarelli, G. Festa, A. Mistretta, M. P. Morigi & R. Nania

  2. Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia “Augusto Righi”, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    F. Albertin, M. Bettuzzi, R. Brancaccio, L. Cifarelli & M. P. Morigi

  3. Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare – INFN, Sezione di Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    F. Albertin, M. Bettuzzi, R. Brancaccio, L. Cifarelli, M. P. Morigi & R. Nania

  4. Accademia delle Scienze dell’Istituto di Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    F. Casali

  5. Parco Archeologico di Lilibeo-Marsala, Marsala, Italy

    E. Caruso, M. G. Griffo & A. M. Parrinello

  6. Département des Sciences de l’Antiquité, Université de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland

    L. E. Baumer, A. Mistretta & L. Strolin

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  1. F. Albertin
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Correspondence to F. Albertin, G. Festa or L. Strolin.

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Albertin, F., Baumer, L.E., Bettuzzi, M. et al. X-ray computed tomography to study archaeological clay and wood artefacts at Lilybaeum. Eur. Phys. J. Plus 136, 513 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-021-01465-1

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