This month, we had the chance to present some of our project results all the way Down Under – yes, that’s right, we took Enigma to Australia! Thanks to Gianluca Iori, collaborator from SESAME Synchrotron, we had the chance to present a poster at the 24th International Workshop on Quantitative Musculoskeletal Imaging (QMSKI. QMSKI is a long-standing conference that brings together researchers working on imaging and modeling of the musculoskeletal system—from the cellular and nanoscale to whole-body diagnostics, and from basic biology to clinical application.
Formerly known as the International Bone Densitometry Workshop, QMSKI has expanded its scope in recent years to include a broad range of imaging techniques, including SRμCT, DXA, QCT, HRpQCT, MRI, and FEA, among others. It has become an important venue for discussion of both technological innovation and applied skeletal research. Our contribution, presented in the form of a poster, was titled:
“Virtual ‘Paleo-Histology’ at the BEATS Beamline (SESAME, Jordan): A Non-Destructive Approach for Analyzing Archaeological Bone Preservation, Taphonomy, and Life History”
With the poster, we indicated how we’re exploring the ways that synchrotron-based phase-contrast microCT can be used as a non-destructive alternative to traditional histology when working with archaeological and fossil bone. This approach allows the 3D internal structure of bone to be visualized at histological resolution, which is particularly valuable for studying irreplaceable material such as human remains or ancient faunal specimens.
The poster presented three case studies:
- Human ribs from a historical skeletal collection (19th–20th c., Sardinia) were analyzed to test the method’s potential for histomorphometric analysis, as part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie ENIGMA project, which compares growth and bone remodelling in Neanderthals and modern humans.
- Petrous bones of prehistoric cattle (Bos sp.) from Neolithic and Bronze Age contexts in Cyprus were studied to assess preservation state and bioerosion patterns relevant for ancient DNA recovery, in collaboration with the ARETI Project.
- An evaluation of the BEATS beamline at SESAME as a platform for virtual bone histology, especially for archaeologists and bioanthropologists working in Southwest Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Results demonstrated that 3D virtual histology allows for detailed, quantifiable analysis of bone microstructure, including Haversian canals and osteocyte lacunae, with improved preservation of specimen integrity. Comparative analysis with physical thin-sections confirmed the accuracy and reliability of the virtual method. In the petrous bones, differing degrees of taphonomic damage were observed, with implications for predicting DNA preservation. This research highlights the potential of synchrotron virtual histology for advancing both methodological and applied work in bioarchaeology, and showcases the growing importance of facilities like SESAME for archaeological science in historically rich regions.