DOI: 10.1148/rg.266065079
CT: A New Nondestructive Method for Visualizing and Characterizing Ancient Roman Glass Fragments in Situ in Blocks of Soil1
Roel J. Jansen, RT,
Martin Poulus, RT,
Jaap Kottman, MSc,
Tessa de Groot, MSc,
Dirk J. Huisman, MSc, PhD and
Jaap Stoker, MD, PhD
1 From the Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands (R.J.J., M.P., J.S.); and the National Service for Archaeological Heritage (Rijksdienst voor het Oudheidkundig Bodemonderzoek), Amersfoort, the Netherlands (J.K., T.d.G., D.J.H.). Presented as an education exhibit at the 2005 RSNA Annual Meeting. Received April 25, 2006; revision requested May 10 and received June 26; accepted June 28. All authors have no financial relationships to disclose.
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Figure 1. Drawing illustrates the reconstructed burial chamber. Beside the sarcophagus near its longest side are two cylindric bottles and a dish. Two blocks of soil that were dug up in this vicinity contained one of the bottles and the dish; the bottle beneath the folding chair was removed "en bloc" (ie, in a block of soil) but was not examined with computed tomography (CT). The rest of the glass objects are seen in the corner on the left. The glass in this location was removed by digging up six blocks of soil. The bronze bowl surrounded by the three standing cylindric bottles was also present in one of the blocks (cf Figs 3–5).
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Figure 2. Photograph illustrates how the block with the largest concentration of glass was lifted by sliding a steel plate under it. This block was then wrapped in plaster to prevent damage during transport. The smaller concentrations of glass were removed from the grave with a shovel and put in crates.
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Figure 3. CT scan shows a bulb-shaped bottle (black arrow) that is partly filled with soil and air owing to a connection between the interior of the bottle and the open air. The image was obtained perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bottle. The Isings type of the bottle is unknown. Double-headed arrows indicate the loose soil that protects the block. A part of the floor of the burial chamber is visible as a dark discoloration (white arrows).
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Figure 4a. (a) Maximum-intensity-projection (MIP) image obtained perpendicular to the axial section demonstrates parts of the handle and neck (arrows) of the bulb-shaped bottle shown in Figure 3. The bottle is decorated with a glass thread. Fragments of the handle and neck of a second bulb-shaped bottle are also visible (arrowheads). The glass from both bottles is fragmented and of poor quality, and the Isings types are unknown. (b) Three-dimensional shaded-surface-display image obtained perpendicular to the axial section shows the same parts of the two bulb-shaped bottles. Arrows indicate the decorative glass thread on the first bottle. Arrowheads indicate fragments of the handle and neck of the second bottle. The white dots surrounding the fragments of glass are pebbles in the loose soil that protects the blocks.
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Figure 4b. (a) Maximum-intensity-projection (MIP) image obtained perpendicular to the axial section demonstrates parts of the handle and neck (arrows) of the bulb-shaped bottle shown in Figure 3. The bottle is decorated with a glass thread. Fragments of the handle and neck of a second bulb-shaped bottle are also visible (arrowheads). The glass from both bottles is fragmented and of poor quality, and the Isings types are unknown. (b) Three-dimensional shaded-surface-display image obtained perpendicular to the axial section shows the same parts of the two bulb-shaped bottles. Arrows indicate the decorative glass thread on the first bottle. Arrowheads indicate fragments of the handle and neck of the second bottle. The white dots surrounding the fragments of glass are pebbles in the loose soil that protects the blocks.
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Figure 5. Photograph shows the partially reconstructed second bulb-shaped bottle (left) and a large fragment of the first bottle (right), which is decorated with rings of glass (cf Fig 4). After excavation, the bottles appeared to be Isings type 88b and a variant of Isings type 88b, respectively.
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Figure 6a. (a) CT scan obtained perpendicular to the longest side of the block shows a metal (bronze) bowl (curved arrow) enclosing a cylindric bottle. Double-headed arrow indicates the sides of the neck of the bottle, which is Isings type 51b. An Isings type 82b2 perfume bottle, or unguentarium, is visible on the left (straight arrow). The unguentarium is situated on the edge of the block (cf Fig 7) and is filled with air because of a connection between its interior and the open air. (b) MIP image obtained perpendicular to the axial section shows the unguentarium (open arrow). Solid arrow indicates another cylindric bottle (Isings type 51b), whose glass is pulverized and in poor condition. Arrowhead indicates glass fragments of an incomplete bottle appearing as a curved gray layer. (c) MIP image obtained at a 45° angle from the axial section shows the bronze bowl (black arrow) enclosing the Isings type 51b cylindric bottle, whose handle (white arrow) and neck are clearly depicted. However, the glass is fragmented and in poor condition.
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Figure 6b. (a) CT scan obtained perpendicular to the longest side of the block shows a metal (bronze) bowl (curved arrow) enclosing a cylindric bottle. Double-headed arrow indicates the sides of the neck of the bottle, which is Isings type 51b. An Isings type 82b2 perfume bottle, or unguentarium, is visible on the left (straight arrow). The unguentarium is situated on the edge of the block (cf Fig 7) and is filled with air because of a connection between its interior and the open air. (b) MIP image obtained perpendicular to the axial section shows the unguentarium (open arrow). Solid arrow indicates another cylindric bottle (Isings type 51b), whose glass is pulverized and in poor condition. Arrowhead indicates glass fragments of an incomplete bottle appearing as a curved gray layer. (c) MIP image obtained at a 45° angle from the axial section shows the bronze bowl (black arrow) enclosing the Isings type 51b cylindric bottle, whose handle (white arrow) and neck are clearly depicted. However, the glass is fragmented and in poor condition.
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Figure 6c. (a) CT scan obtained perpendicular to the longest side of the block shows a metal (bronze) bowl (curved arrow) enclosing a cylindric bottle. Double-headed arrow indicates the sides of the neck of the bottle, which is Isings type 51b. An Isings type 82b2 perfume bottle, or unguentarium, is visible on the left (straight arrow). The unguentarium is situated on the edge of the block (cf Fig 7) and is filled with air because of a connection between its interior and the open air. (b) MIP image obtained perpendicular to the axial section shows the unguentarium (open arrow). Solid arrow indicates another cylindric bottle (Isings type 51b), whose glass is pulverized and in poor condition. Arrowhead indicates glass fragments of an incomplete bottle appearing as a curved gray layer. (c) MIP image obtained at a 45° angle from the axial section shows the bronze bowl (black arrow) enclosing the Isings type 51b cylindric bottle, whose handle (white arrow) and neck are clearly depicted. However, the glass is fragmented and in poor condition.
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Figure 7. Photograph shows the unguentarium (cf Fig 6a, 6b); the remains of the two cylindric bottles (cf Fig 6b); and the top of the bronze bowl, with the enclosed cylindric bottle (cf Fig 6a–6c).
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Figure 8a. (a) CT scan shows the remains of a high bowl (solid arrow) and two large plates. Double-headed arrow indicates layers of heavily corroded glass. A part of the floor of the burial chamber is visible as a dark discoloration (open arrow). (b, c) MIP (b) and 3D volume-rendered (c) images obtained perpendicular to the axial section clearly depict the base rings of one large, two medium-sized, and two to three small plates; two stacked bowls; and two to three small bowls (solid arrows) (cf d). Open arrow indicates the high bowl (cf a), whose glass is less corroded than that of the other objects. However, all of these objects are severely corroded and heavily fragmented, and no attempt was made to excavate them because of their very poor condition. (d) Drawing made after the CT examination illustrates the five to six plates, two stacked bowls, and two to three small bowls whose base rings are depicted in b and c.
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Figure 8b. (a) CT scan shows the remains of a high bowl (solid arrow) and two large plates. Double-headed arrow indicates layers of heavily corroded glass. A part of the floor of the burial chamber is visible as a dark discoloration (open arrow). (b, c) MIP (b) and 3D volume-rendered (c) images obtained perpendicular to the axial section clearly depict the base rings of one large, two medium-sized, and two to three small plates; two stacked bowls; and two to three small bowls (solid arrows) (cf d). Open arrow indicates the high bowl (cf a), whose glass is less corroded than that of the other objects. However, all of these objects are severely corroded and heavily fragmented, and no attempt was made to excavate them because of their very poor condition. (d) Drawing made after the CT examination illustrates the five to six plates, two stacked bowls, and two to three small bowls whose base rings are depicted in b and c.
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Figure 8c. (a) CT scan shows the remains of a high bowl (solid arrow) and two large plates. Double-headed arrow indicates layers of heavily corroded glass. A part of the floor of the burial chamber is visible as a dark discoloration (open arrow). (b, c) MIP (b) and 3D volume-rendered (c) images obtained perpendicular to the axial section clearly depict the base rings of one large, two medium-sized, and two to three small plates; two stacked bowls; and two to three small bowls (solid arrows) (cf d). Open arrow indicates the high bowl (cf a), whose glass is less corroded than that of the other objects. However, all of these objects are severely corroded and heavily fragmented, and no attempt was made to excavate them because of their very poor condition. (d) Drawing made after the CT examination illustrates the five to six plates, two stacked bowls, and two to three small bowls whose base rings are depicted in b and c.
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Figure 8d. (a) CT scan shows the remains of a high bowl (solid arrow) and two large plates. Double-headed arrow indicates layers of heavily corroded glass. A part of the floor of the burial chamber is visible as a dark discoloration (open arrow). (b, c) MIP (b) and 3D volume-rendered (c) images obtained perpendicular to the axial section clearly depict the base rings of one large, two medium-sized, and two to three small plates; two stacked bowls; and two to three small bowls (solid arrows) (cf d). Open arrow indicates the high bowl (cf a), whose glass is less corroded than that of the other objects. However, all of these objects are severely corroded and heavily fragmented, and no attempt was made to excavate them because of their very poor condition. (d) Drawing made after the CT examination illustrates the five to six plates, two stacked bowls, and two to three small bowls whose base rings are depicted in b and c.
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Figure 9a. (a–c) MIP images obtained in perpendicular planes show the wide portion (black arrows) and neck (white arrow) of an Isings type 51b oval bottle. The bottle appears to be deformed and fragmented. The glass fragments are of poor quality. (d) Photograph shows three large excavated fragments of the bottle.
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Figure 9b. (a–c) MIP images obtained in perpendicular planes show the wide portion (black arrows) and neck (white arrow) of an Isings type 51b oval bottle. The bottle appears to be deformed and fragmented. The glass fragments are of poor quality. (d) Photograph shows three large excavated fragments of the bottle.
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Figure 9c. (a–c) MIP images obtained in perpendicular planes show the wide portion (black arrows) and neck (white arrow) of an Isings type 51b oval bottle. The bottle appears to be deformed and fragmented. The glass fragments are of poor quality. (d) Photograph shows three large excavated fragments of the bottle.
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Figure 9d. (a–c) MIP images obtained in perpendicular planes show the wide portion (black arrows) and neck (white arrow) of an Isings type 51b oval bottle. The bottle appears to be deformed and fragmented. The glass fragments are of poor quality. (d) Photograph shows three large excavated fragments of the bottle.
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Copyright © 2006 by the Radiological Society of North America.
