Bridging technology and culture

X-ray μCT-based wood identification of Sub-Saharan African heritage

Datos Bibliográficos

ID4637728
AutoresDierickx (0000-0001-8669-2279, Royal Museum for Central Africa, autor de correspondencia), Hans Beeckman (0000-0001-8954-6277, Royal Museum for Central Africa), Ivan Josipovic (0000-0002-4404-3980, Ghent University), Célia Charkaoui (0009-0001-2011-6735, Royal Museum for Central Africa), Siska Genbrugge (Diamond Materials (United States)), Julien Volper (Royal Museum for Central Africa), Blanca Van Houtte Alonso (Royal Museum for Central Africa), Matthieu Boone, Matthieu N Boone (0000-0002-5478-4141, Ghent University), Wannes Hubau (0000-0003-3795-4986, Royal Museum for Central Africa), Janvan Den Bulcke
Año2025
Volumen73
Páginas110-121
Fecha de publicación2025-05-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Cultural Heritage (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1296-2074 • E-ISSN: 1778-3674
EditorialElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.culher.2025.03.001
OpenAlexW4408561339
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas3
Referencias citadas34

Knowing the wood species of an art object facilitates its international travel, as well as insight into the object function and manufacturing. • X-ray μCT offers a non-invasive alternative to wood identification of heritage objects. • Through identifying the wood species, a link is formed between the properties of the wood and the original context of the object. Wood identification of cultural heritage objects is vital for facilitating their international travel, providing invaluable information for conservation strategies and improving our understanding of the objects’ historical and cultural context. To date, wood identification is most commonly performed using techniques that rely on sampling, which is especially undesirable for valuable cultural objects. X-ray micro-tomography (μCT) offers a non-destructive alternative for gaining insight into the material composition of objects. It is a tool for identifying the wood species by visualizing the internal wood structure without changing the object. However, obtaining sufficiently high-resolution anatomical images that can be used for identification remains a challenge, particularly when examining diverse heritage objects. This study applies μCT for the wood identification of 20 heritage objects from the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA, Belgium), showcasing the efficacy of this non-invasive technique. Despite variations in the size, shape, and material composition of the objects, successful wood identification was achieved for all objects. Since two objects contained more than one wood species, the total number of identifications was 22, of which 18 were to the species level. For the four remaining samples, wood identification was achieved at the genus level (3 samples) or identified as a liana (1 sample). Additionally, by obtaining a wood identification through X-ray μCT images, the physical and mechanical properties of the wood species were discussed in relation to the objects' original context and function. Specifically, lightweight wood species were found in objects with a portable function such as masks and a toy, while low-durability wood used in a funerary object could be linked to its symbolic role. Two musical instruments were identified as being made from wood species known for their acoustic qualities. These findings highlight the significant potential of advanced non-destructive imaging using μCT for wood identification, providing much-needed material and contextual insights into previously understudied museum collections

Archaeology · Biology · Botany · Geography · Archaeological Research and Protection · Computer Science · Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis · Engineering · Materials Science · Wood and Agarwood Research