Researchers at the University of Bologna have managed to develop a technique that allows you to examine the remains with minimal damage to the samples.
The method is based on a non-invasive search for collagen residues, which would be sufficient for spot radiocarbon analysis. Using hyperspectral imaging and a special chemical imaging model, the researchers were able to identify collagen in every pixel. And the hyperspectral camera captures reflected radiation data with a wavelength in the range from 1,000 to 2,500 nm.
The analysis lasts only a few minutes and does not destroy the research sample.
Human remains found as a result of archaeological excavations can provide a lot of information about the life of ancient peoples: what they ate, what diseases they suffered, even what migrations they undertook.
But the usefulness of one or another picture of research depends on how much collagen is preserved in the sample.
Source: royalsocietypublishing.org
