The Reconstruction of a Bronze Battle Axe and Comparison of Inflicted Damage Injuries Using Neutron Tomography, Manufacturing Modeling, and X-ray Microtomography Data

Application of neutron grating interferometry and tomography to the nineteenth century Korean copper coins

Distinguishing differences between authentic artifacts and replicas is a significant challenge in the field of cultural heritage. In this study, we explore the application of neutron grating interferometry and tomography techniques to identify Korean copper coins in the nineteenth century of Joseon period by investigating structural differences between genuine objects and replicas. Neutron grating interferometry provides the microstructural information of coins, including features such as pores and precipitates, through a dark field image derived from small-angle neutron scattering. Additionally, neutron transmission tomography examines the three-dimensional internal structures and potentially hidden features of coins. Both neutron imaging techniques highlight regions that contain lead precipitates in the copper alloy, showing consistent agreement with optical imaging and with the quantitative lead content measured by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The distinct corrosion patterns observed in the authentic coin and replica provide empirical explanations for the general corrosion mechanism of copper alloy. This interpretation finds support in the moderate contribution of dark field contrast from cuprite, which underlies the signal of lead precipitates.

Structural Features of the Fragments from Cast Iron Cauldrons of the Medieval Golden Horde: Neutron Tomography Data

The spatial arrangement of the internal pores inside several fragments of ancient cast iron cauldrons related to the medieval Golden Horde period was studied using the neutron tomography method. The high neutron penetration into a cast iron material provides sufficient data for detailed analysis of the three-dimensional imaging data. The size, elongation, and orientation distributions of the observed internal pores were obtained. As discussed, the imaging and quantitative analytical data are considered structural markers for the location of cast iron foundries, as well as a feature of the medieval casting process.

Phase Composition and Its Spatial Distribution in Antique Copper Coins: Neutron Tomography and Diffraction Studies

The chemical and elementary composition, internal arrangement, and spatial distribution of the components of ancient Greek copper coins were studied using XRF analysis, neutron diffraction and neutron tomography methods. The studied coins are interesting from a historical and cultural point of view, as they are "Charon's obol's". These coins were discovered at the location of an ancient Greek settlement during archaeological excavations on the "Volna-1" necropolis in Krasnodar Region, Russian Federation. It was determined that the coins are mainly made of a bronze alloy, a tin content that falls in the range of 1.1(2)-7.9(3) wt.%. All coins are highly degraded; corrosion and patina areas occupy volumes from ~27 % to ~62 % of the original coin volumes. The neutron tomography method not only provided 3D data of the spatial distribution of the bronze alloy and the patina with corrosion contamination inside coin volumes, but also restored the minting pattern of several studied coins. Taking into account the obtained results, the origin and use of these coins in the light of historical and economic processes of the Bosporan Kingdom are discussed.