Beyond the Visible - Infrared Imaging for Museums

This paper presents results of new approaches to imaging, specifically utilizing techniques developed by NASA for spacecraft missions to other solar system bodies. Results from a month long field project in Jerusalem in June-July 1994 demonstrate the usefulness of the new techniques on inscribed soft media and ostraca. The imaging approach is effective and useful on frescoes, mosaics, ink inscriptions on plaster, colored textiles and illuminated manuscripts. Most of the examples will be drawn from text material, as these are the objects we have had the most access to for this study, although we have examples from some of the other areas as well. The techniques presented here are not generally suitable for imaging for cataloguing or archival purposes. They are meant for objects that are difficult to interpret or reassemble or conserve.