Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology

2014 Edition
| Editors: Claire Smith

Microcomputerized Tomography (MicroCT) in Archaeology

Reference work entry
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0465-2_675
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Introduction

A growing number of museums and other institutions involved in archaeological and paleontological research are acquiring or developing 3D imaging systems based on X-ray microcomputerized tomography (microCT) (Fig. 1). This X-ray technique evolved from conventional clinical CT scanning, with more than two orders of magnitude increase in space resolution and a great enhancement in image contrast. The past 20 years have witnessed advances in X-ray microCT as a result of advances in X-ray sources (microfocus tubes and synchrotron radiation), 2D detectors (charged-coupled devices, flat-panel detectors, and silicon microstrip sensors), and front-end microelectronics for data acquisition. Advances in computer processing speed and storage memory capacity have also been crucial for the progress of microCT.
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References

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Further Reading

  1. Baruchel, J., J.-Y. Buffière, E. Maire, P. Merie & G. Peix. 2000. X-ray tomography in material science. Paris: Hermes Science.Google Scholar
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  3. Mancini, L., G. Tromba & F. Zanini. 2006. Structural microanalysis with synchrotron radiation: archaeometric applications at Elettra. Journal of Neutron Research 14: 75-9.Google Scholar
  4. Tafforeu, P., R. Boistel et al. 2006. Applications of X-ray synchrotron microtomography for non-destructive 3D studies of paleontological samples. Applied Physics A 83: 195-202.Google Scholar
  5. Tuniz, C., P. Bayle, F. Bernardini, L. Bondioli, A. Coppa, D. Dreossi, R. Macchiarelli, L. Mancini, A. Ronchitelli & C. Zanolli. 2012. A new assessment of the Neanderthal child mandible from Molare, SW Italy, using X-ray microtomography. Conference European Society for the Study of Human Evolution. Bordeaux, France, 21-22 September 2012.Google Scholar
  6. Tuniz, C., F. Bernardini, A., Cicuttin, M.L. Crespo, D. Dreossi, A. Gianoncelli, L. Mancini, A. Mendoza Cuevas, N. Sodini, G. Tromba, F. Zanini & C. Zanolli, 2013. The ICTP-Elettra, 2012a, X-ray laboratory for cultural heritage and archaeology. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A 711 (2013): 106-10.Google Scholar
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Applied PhysicsThe ‘Abdus Salam’ International Centre for Theoretical PhysicsTriesteItaly
  2. 2.Elettra-Sincrotrone TriesteTriesteItaly