Unearthing a Prayer for the Dead
By David Scott Citrin, Alexandre Locquet, Junliang Dong
Terahertz waves uncover the hidden inscription on a 16th-century lead cross.
This Article From Issue
September-October 2023
Volume 111, Number 5
Page 280
Back in 2017, a researcher from the Laboratory of the Archaeology of Metals in Jarville-la-Malgrange, France, brought a 16th-century lead cross to our labs, asking if we could read a barely visible inscription underneath a layer of corrosion. We were intrigued but dubious. Our team, based at the Georgia Institute of Technology, was developing imaging technology that was primarily intended for industrial applications. This request was not the first time that an archaeological lab had asked us to examine an artifact to see whether we could reveal what was hidden below the surface, but many of our past attempts had not been very successful.
QUICK TAKE
- Imaging technology developed for industrial applications can also help archaeologists uncover messages on lead artifacts that are hidden under centuries of corrosion.
- Terahertz electromagnetic radiation can be used for nondestructive imaging that provides a peek into the history of an artifact without causing damage.
- The multidisciplinary process of developing the imaging technology demonstrates how bringing the humanities into laboratories can result in breakthroughs for all involved.
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