Application of Dual-Energy CT for assessing bone mineral density in ancient human skeletal remains

Abstract

Evaluating the bone quality of archaeological remains can provide valuable insights into the lifestyle and health of ancient hominins. Archaeologists have attempted various non-destructive techniques to accurately quantify bone mass, but each method has its limitations and its accuracy is debated. We utilized dual-energy CT to evaluate the bone density of 30 hominid individuals ranging from the Late Bronze Age to the early Iron Age. Our results show that compared with single-energy CT, dual-energy CT color-coded imaging can better display the preservation of cancellous bone in the medullary cavity. The virtual calcium measurement technology based on air-water substance can assess the bone calcium content, and the virtual calcium value can accurately show the bone loss pattern of trabecular bone related to age, with the measurement demonstrating good repeatability. The color-coded imaging technique and virtual calcium value technique of dual-energy CT are a reliable and non-invasive technique to evaluate the quality of ancient human bone.