Improvement of Novel Imaging Technologies to Study Anatomical and Pathological Morphology in Ancient Human Remains: Terahertz Imaging and Spectroscopy and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Michael Bock; Professor Dr. Martin Koch; Dr. Ute Ariane Ludwig
• Subject Area: Medical Physics, Biomedical Technology ; Classical, Roman, Christian and Islamic Archaeology
• Term: from 2015 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 277686684

Evolutionary medicine (EM) bridges the past with the present and the future. Paleopathology, a sub-discipline of EM, investigates the occurrence, change and cause of diseases over historical periods with a focus on the last millennia. In Paleopathology the examination of ancient mummies is of special interest, because both bone and soft tissues are preserved in mummies which enables the study of a large variety of diseases. Ancient mummies are unique and valuable objects, and their examination should predominantly be performed with non-invasive modalities. Currently, the Gold standard in non-invasive imaging of historical remains and skeleton material are conventional X-ray imaging and computer assisted tomography (CT). Unfortunately, the visualization of mummified soft tissues such as joints, muscle or intervertebral disks remains insufficient withthese X-ray-based technologies, and alternative imaging modalities with improved image contrast are required for soft tissue differentiation.In this project, new imaging and spectroscopic techniques shall be developed for ancient remains based on magnetic resonance (MR) and Terahertz (THz) imaging to complement conventional imaging modalities. Both MRI and THz imaging and spectroscopy are novel imaging technologies for mummy research; however, preliminary results of the applicants already show their potential for imaging of ancient remains. The aim of this project is the further development of new MR acquisition methods and hardware to overcome the current limitations caused by the rapid MR signal decay of the de-hydrated mummified tissues. In addition, a mobile THz scanner will be designed for use in museums and on excavation sites to provide guidance for further exams using CT, MRI, or THz spectroscopy. The interdisciplinary research team will then apply these novel imaging technologies to a series of well-defined mummified tissues to build a database for EM research. Beyond their use in EM, the methodologies will also be tested for their clinical applicability; for example, the novel MRI sequences are expected to be applicable in the imaging of lung tissue or bone.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: France, Switzerland
• Partner Organisation: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds (SNF)
• Cooperation Partners: Dr. Bernd Fischer; Professor Dr. Frank Rühli