X-ray stars in the ancient sky
07 July 2006
Some electronics assembly equipment can be of use to the wider world. In a deviation from our usual subject matter on EM&T, we take a look at how an x-ray machine is being used to unearth the secrets of the ancients.
X-Tek Systems has played a vital role in an innovative link-up between high-tech industry and international universities, aimed at uncovering the secrets of a two-thousand-year-old astronomical calculation device, more advanced than any other known mechanism for at least a thousand years after its manufacture in around 100 BC.
X-Tek's equivalent of a body scanner has been used to probe the secrets of the ancient artefact, estimated to date from around 80 BC. Discovered in 1900 AD in a shipwreck in the Greek islands, the Antikythera Mechanism contains over 30 gear wheels and dials and the remains are covered in astronomical inscriptions. It may be a device to demonstrate the motion of the sun, moon and planets, or to calculate calendars or astrological events. Although the mechanism is no bigger than a shoe box, it's too priceless and unique to leave the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, so a major expedition at the end of last year brought a unique 400kV microfocus Computed Tomography System, weighing over 7.5 tonnes, from X-Tek to examine the artefact in Greece.
As the results of the research are analysed, the structure and purpose of the mechanism, now in dozens of fragments, will become clearer. X-Tek's imaging equipment has enabled researchers to view inscriptions inside the Mechanism which haven't been seen for over 2,000 years and work can now continue on counting the gear teeth and deciphering the inscriptions. Looking at the data with X-Tek, academic principal investigator Professor Mike Edmunds commented: "The outstanding results obtained from X-Tek's 3-D X-rays are allowing us to make a definitive investigation of the Mechanism. I do not believe it will ever be possible to do better."
X-Tek's Managing Director Roger Hadland added, "We are delighted to be able to exhibit the cutting-edge capabilities of our X-ray technology in this way. The project has ably demonstrated that X-Tek's X-ray technology, originally developed for industry, can be inventively used for a wealth of other applications."
A final conclusion on the Mechanism's purpose is expected after full examination of the data. The investigation continues to be filmed for a major TV documentary.
The Antikythera Research Project is a joint programme between Cardiff University, Athens University, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, X-Tek Group and Hewlett-Packard USA, funded by the Leverhulme Foundation.
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