X-ray 3D computed tomography of bronze archaeological samples

X-ray cone-beam computed tomography (CT) is one of the most powerful non-de structive testing (NDT) technique for the whole 3D inspection of a sample. The development of suitable 2D detectors has permitted the set-up of very f ast and efficient CT systems able to collect and reconstruct hundreds of to mographic slices in short time and with a more efficient use of the X-ray f lux. At present, this technique is widely applied in industrial field but it can be employed successfully even in the analysis and restoration of archaeolo gical samples. An experimental 3D CT system has been set up at the Physics Department of U niversity of Bologna (Italy) for the investigation of small bronze objects. Preliminary tests have been carried out on an Etruscan fibula and results concerning radiographic inspection, slice tomographic analysis and 3D recon struction of the object will be presented.