X-ray 3D computed tomography of bronze archaeological samples

X-ray cone-beam computed tomography (CT) is one of the most powerful non-destructive testing (NDT) technique for the whole 3D inspection of a sample. The development of suitable 2D detectors has permitted the set-up of very fast and efficient CT systems able to collect and reconstruct hundreds of tomographic slices in short time and with a more efficient use of the X-ray flux. At present, this technique is widely applied in industrial field but it can be employed successfully even in the analysis and restoration of archaeological samples. An experimental 3D CT system has been set up at the Physics Department of University of Bologna (Italy) for the investigation of small bronze objects. Preliminary tests have been carried out on an Etruscan fibula and results concerning radiographic inspection, slice tomographic analysis and 3D reconstruction of the object are presented.