The paper presents a new concept of micro-artefact, the fiber gauge, consisting of a set of optical fibers sticking out from a flat surface.
Areas of differing impedance (for example, the sub-pleural end of a thickened septum), while not visible in ultrasound, results in the beam reflecting indefinitely, leading to a ring down B-line artefact composed of all the micro-reflections.
For instance, Hwang et al. [10] and Vanhove et al. [11] showed that by using attenuation maps derived from micro-CT data, cupping artefacts in micro-SPECT images could be eliminated and quantitative errors could be reduced with iterative attenuation correction [12] and window-based scatter correction [13] methods.
As material easily abraded from the underlying surfaces may also end up near or on the cultural artefacts as a part of dust or micro particles, this risk from the building materials may also be evaluated.
The artefact has been cleaned by using a micro-drill in order to eliminate the soil concretions and dangerous corrosion products; finally, the object was reconstructed using pigmented epoxy resin and has been protected with acrylic resins and microcrystalline waxes.
Based on the results, it can be concluded that SEM-EDS analysis and Microscopy observations can help to characterize compositional difference between corrosion layers in the micro scale as well as corrosion mechanisms occurring in archaeological metal artefacts.
(a) picture of a detail during the micro-excavation; CT horizontal (b) and lateral (c) sections showing porous and cracked layers around the artefact.
Picture of the different phases of the restoration: (a) during the micro-excavation; (b) just after the micro-excavation; (c) at the end of the restoration with organic layers; (d) final appearance of the artefact.
Micro-samples were removed from artefacts using acetone swabs.
An intriguing, disorientating 60s artefact.
