Uncovering Secrets of Archaeological Bones with Hyperspectral Imaging.

An Italian team has developed an innovative method for analyzing archaeological bones that makes it possible to quantify and map the presence of collagen, the invisible protein essential for radiocarbon dating. The technique uses near-infrared hyperspectral imaging to detect the average collagen content in bone samples in a non-destructive way, allowing researchers to select the most suitable samples for radiocarbon analysis and minimize the destruction of valuable bone material. This new method is expected to revolutionize the field of archaeology and radiocarbon dating, providing detailed information about the presence of collagen on archaeological bones and increasing the number of bones available for future research.