Terahertz time-domain imaging and Optical coherence tomography for the subsurface noninvasive inspection of a 21st Dynasty Egyptian coffin

摘要

Terahertz time-domain imaging (THz-TDI) and Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) are twoinvestigation methods capable of providing 3D datasets from which depth profiles, cross-sectional images, plan-typeimages and volume rendering of an object can be derived. These novel photonic technologies are extremely relevant tothe field of heritage science, for which the comprehension of the stratigraphic structure of a cultural heritage object mayhelp in the understanding of its manufacturing technology and state of preservation. Different imaging depths, fields ofview and axial/lateral resolutions characterize the two imaging technologies, which thus provide different butcomplementary information of the same scanned object. In this study we show how the THz-TDI and SD-OCT scansperformed on a fragment from the underside of an Egyptian coffin (Theban area, 21st/22nd Dynasties, EgyptianAntiquities department of the Louvre museum – Paris, France) gave precious insights on its full structure andstratigraphy.