The Jinan Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Science, located in the Jinan Start-up Area for Growth Drivers Transformation in Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province, has used its X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy technology to unravel the DNA of historical relics and their cultural significance and craftsmanship.

The technology was developed in collaboration with the Palace Museum.

In recent years, XRF spectroscopy has emerged as an indispensable analytical method in the realm of archaeological discovery of cultural heritage, renowned for its non-destructive testing, rapid analysis, and high precision.

However, the challenge lies in acquiring high-precision surface elemental information for artifacts with curved or uneven surfaces. "China boasts a diverse array of cultural relics with intricate forms and elaborate craftsmanship, such as jade artifacts, ceramics, bronzes, seals, and lacquerware," said Xu Qiong, the associate researcher and XRF equipment project manager.

Responding to the demands of the Palace Museum, Xu and his team leveraged their extensive experience in X-ray CT development, integrating artificial intelligence and advanced software algorithms and successfully implementing high-precision curved surface micro-area XRF imaging.

Xu said that the equipment enables macroscopic exploration of the craftsmanship, decoration, and distribution of defects in complex cultural artifacts. It is a non-destructive analysis technology essential for studying artifact production techniques, uncovering the true value of artifacts, devising targeted conservation strategies, and ensuring the sustainable preservation of cultural heritage information.

This versatile technology has applications in fields such as materials science, security, and aerospace.

It has heralded a new era in the protection and research of cultural heritage, where cutting-edge technology breathes life into ancient relics, allowing them to shed light on the mysteries of the world.

An engineer uses the XRF equipment to scan a sample. [Photo/Dazhong News]