Research project

This project explores the non-invasive digitization of fragile historical documents. There are documents that cannot be opened anymore due to external influences (such as fire) or aging processes. For some of these documents non-destructive testing methods can be used to provide a look inside. The applicability of individual methods is based on the material properties of the used components. For example, from the 3rd century BC, iron gall ink was used for writing on writing media such as parchment. For such documents, 3-D X-ray computed tomography can be used, because the metallic particles of the ink attenuate the X-ray radiation more than the collagen of the parchment. Through this effect, the writings in the reconstructed volume get visible. A variety of inks, writing media and other materials were used to create documents. The main writing medium for scrolls and codices or books was papyrus, parchment and paper. As inks, carbon inks (e.g., lamp black ink) and metallic inks (e.g., iron gall, malachite, cinnabar) were used. After recording the volume, it has to be processed by image processing algorithms in order to virtually unroll scrolls or browse through books. Both, recording by 3-D X-ray CT its limitations, as well as digital data processing are the main components of this project.