Bronze and brass artifacts excavated at the ancient city of Petra have been imaged in three dimensions using neutrons at the High Flux Isotope Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Neutron imaging allows archeologists and historians otherwise unobtainable insights into the manufacturing techniques and lives of bygone cultures. The samples, all from Brown University, include an elaborate hanging bronze oil lamp, a large Roman coin, and a standing dog figure. Neutron imaging data from artifacts can reveal raw materials used, manufacturing techniques, the historical development of alloys and composite materials, and the geological origins of ores and clay. On the cultural side, researchers can learn about the activities of daily life that such objects served.
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