February 6, 2009--Spectral instrumentation manufacturer Headwall Photonics (Fitchburg, MA) announced that its Hyperspec short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectral imaging instrumentation was used by archeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority to analyze five lines of text found on an ancient shard of pottery that dates back 3,000 years in history. The inscribed pottery shard, known as an ostracon, was scanned and imaged in the range of 1000 to 2500 nm.
In collaboration with archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority and Foundation Stone, a non- profit organization supporting the archeological dig, Headwall application engineers conducted multiple hyperspectral scans of the ostracon that resulted in the identification of new text symbols that will assist the project team in efforts to decipher the text appearing on the pottery shard. Hyperspectral images yield information about the chemical composition of an object or scene, allowing researches to analyze information that may not be visible to the naked eye.
"Headwall has been deploying hyperspectral imaging for remote sensing and military applications for over fifteen years," said David Bannon, CEO of Headwall Photonics. "By adopting this proven technique, researchers can better understand not only the text of the ostracon but also the characteristics of the artifact such as inks, pigments, and material composition."
Carbon dating of the ostracon reveals the artifact is approximately 1,000 years older than the famous Dead Sea Scrolls. Saar Ganor, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, said, "With such an important historical artifact, it is critical to deploy non-destructive analytical techniques such as Headwall's hyperspectral imaging. The ability to provide both high spectral and spatial resolution were significant attributes in our decision to work with Headwall's hyperspectral sensors."
For more information, go to www.headwallphotonics.com.
--Posted by Gail Overton, gailo@pennwell.com.
