Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Microimaging (µMRI): new perspectives in the study of archaeological dental findings

The study of dental remains plays a fundamental role in the anthropological evidence, providing a valid alternative when other skeletal elements are not available. In recent years, the increasing use of high-resolution imaging techniques provided morphostructural investigation of mineralized dental tissues using non-destructive approaches. In this perspective, the use of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance micro-imaging (µMRI) has proved to be a powerful tool for studying archaeological materials on the same level as conventional X-ray imaging [1], but its application to dental tissue analysis remains limited. Preliminary results of µMRI analysis of three canines from the Bronze Age necropolis of Olmo di Nogara (Verona, Italy) are presented here [2]. The measurements were performed on a Bruker AVANCE-400 high-resolution spectrometer operating at a high magnetic field (9.4T) and a maximum gradient intensity of 1200 mT/m with a 12 mm diameter microprobe. To validate the protocol, the samples are further analyzed using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CTCB) and conventional RX imaging. CBCT was performed using an Orthophos SL 3D imaging unit with a resolution of 0.16mm. ParaVision®3.0 and Avizo®7.0 software were used for data analysis. The present work shows that the µMRI approach provides complementary information compared to conventional CBCT and X-ray investigations, highlighting potential of µMRI protocols for studying in archaeological tissue. [1] Zanolli et al. 2014. The late Early Pleistocene human dental remains from Uadi Alad and Mulhuli-Amo (Buia), Eritrean Danakil: macromorphology and Microstructure. J. Hum. Evol. 74:96-113. [2] Canci et al. 2015. La necropoli della media e recente Età del bronzo di Olmo di Nogara (Verona). Preistoria e Protostoria del Veneto. 327-340