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High‐resolution multiparametric MRI of contemporary and waterlogged archaeological wood
Author(s) -
Capuani Silvia,
Stagno Valeria,
Missori Mauro,
Sadori Laura,
Longo Sveva
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.483
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1097-458X
pISSN - 0749-1581
DOI - 10.1002/mrc.5034
Subject(s) - tracheid , high resolution , resolution (logic) , anisotropy , image resolution , chemistry , diffusion , archaeology , geology , nuclear magnetic resonance , optics , computer science , remote sensing , artificial intelligence , xylem , physics , botany , biology , geography , thermodynamics
High‐resolution NMR images on three different present‐day wood samples and an archaeological wood specimen were presented and discussed. Although the spatial resolution is still low to perform dendrology for the exact identification of the wooden species, the T 2 ‐spin‐density weighted images exhibit contrasts that are in excellent agreement with optical histological images. On the other hand, T 2 * and T 1 ‐weighted images provide physiological information that is not obtainable by the usual light microscopic investigations. Moreover, the diffusion‐weighted images show the anisotropic behaviour of the water diffusion coefficient quantified along and perpendicularly to vascular bundles (vessels and tracheids), which can be related to the morphology and size of wooden microstructure. This work suggests that high‐resolution multiparametric MRI may be a useful tool to increase the information obtainable from the waterlogged archaeological wood remains in a completely non‐invasive and non‐destructive approach. Therefore, it would be desirable to further develop the hardware and functional characteristics of MRI scanners to improve their potential application in the field of wooden cultural heritage.