An investigation of Etruscan cremations by Computed Tomography (CT)

Abstract

The cremation urn is a tiny archaeological site of its own, with finds, features, stratification and structure. The old prescription was to take the pot apart, or slice it, and micro-excavate with inevitable damage and loss. Here is a new methodology – the application of a CT scan as used in medicine. The authors evaluate the results on 35 Etruscan cremations, finding that CT not only provides an excellent guide for micro-excavation, but allows the degree of fragmentation to be appreciated inside the pot and maps those metal objects that have corroded to a crust and do not survive excavation. They emphasise the value of the method in making a ‘first resort’ primary record especially in commercial archaeology.

Evaluating osteological ageing from digital data

“…In the same context, laser scanners have been utilised for facial identification (Lynnerup et al 2009;Cattaneo et al 2012), for assessing sexual dimorphism, population and ancestry variation (Sholts et al 2011;Ruiz Mediavilla et al 2012;Shearer et al 2012;Sholts & Warmlander, 2012). CT has also been recognised as an efficient tool for non-destructive study of archaeological samples, such as mummies and bog bodies (R€ uhli et al 2004;Adams & Alsop, 2008;Lynnerup, 2008), skeletons (Kn€ usel et al 2013), and even for cremated remains (Minozzi et al 2010;Harvig et al 2012). In addition, 3D models created using such technologies facilitate morphometric analysis, allowing an objective evaluation of 3D morphological variations of the bones in modern humans, their ancestors, and their closest relatives (Zollikofer & Ponce de Leon, 2005;Weber & Bookstein, 2011;Weber, 2015).…”

Computed Tomography and Computed Radiography of Late Bronze Age Cremation Urns From Denmark: An Interdisciplinary Attempt to Develop Methods Applied in Bioarchaeological Cremation Research

“…As recognized in previous studies, the archaeological benefits of the CT scans of cremation urns are promising (Anderson and Fell 1995; Minozzi et al . 2010).…”

“…Characteristic transverse curvilinear fracturing was observed in all of the urns, and in all of the urns it was obvious that the entire cremated material had settled in the lower part of the vessel. This is probably also due to incomplete filling of the urn at the time of burial, which is a common phenomenon in prehistoric urns throughout Europe (see, e.g., Schutkowski and Hummel 1991; Gramsch 2004; Karavanić 2009; Minozzi et al . 2010).…”

“…One of the first experiments involving prehistoric cremation urns was carried out in the United Kingdom in the early 1990s, when Anderson and colleagues scanned five Roman cremation vessels (Anderson and Fell 1995). Later, CT scans were successfully used on Etruscan cremation urns (Minozzi et al . 2010).…”

La tomographie, l’impression 3D et la réalité virtuelle au service de l’archéologie

“…Les exemples de son application au patrimoine culturel portent essentiellement sur des momies et des squelettes humains ou animaux (Houle-Wierzbicki et al, 2015 ;Xiujie et al 2009 ;Ikram et al 2015), ou sur des objets exceptionnels (Mödlinger 2008 ;Hassmann et al 2012) ; peu de travaux examinent les autres types de mobilier (Huisman et al 2014;Lee et al 2008 ;Treyvaud 2010 ;Treyvaud et al 2013). Ces dernières années, l'usage de cette technologie s'est néanmoins développé dans le domaine d'étude des incinérations (Anderson & Fell 1995 ;Harvig et al 2012 ;Harvig & Lynnerup 2013 ;Le Puil-Texier et al 2015 ;Minozzi et al 2010) et lors de découvertes d'ensembles particulièrement complexes nécessitant des prélèvements en « bloc », souvent en lien avec des opérations de conservation ou de fouilles complexes (Stelzner et al 2010 ;Re et al 2015). Le plus souvent, les outils associés à la tomodensitométrie sont utilisés uniquement pour créer des rendus graphiques 2D.…”