Computed Tomography and Handcrafting Processes of an Ancient Musical Instrument

This paper aims to explore how digital imaging and computed tomography (CT) can provide us with significant results and valuable information otherwise unavailable in the study of ancient instruments. Whilst its methods provide great potential in terms of the diagnostics and preservation of ancient musical instruments, radiology has been underused in this field of application. As an improved method for the visualisation and analysis of the material density of instruments and of their surfaces and volumes, CT allows for a useful evaluation of the handcrafting process of instruments as well as the visualisation of invisible fracture lines and lesions in their structures, showing possible modifications, damages and repairs.