Recovery of a lost wall painting at the Etruscan Tomb of the Blue Demons in Tarquinia (Viterbo, Italy) by multispectral reflectometry and UV fluorescence imaging

A lost wall painting from the 5th-century BCE Tomb of the Blue Demons in Tarquinia, Italyhas been recovered using advanced multispectral imaging techniques. Researchers employed a combination of multispectral reflectometry and ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence imaging to capture details invisible to the naked eye. By analyzing images taken across wavelengths from 370 to 1120 nm, they applied blind-source separation algorithms to extract hidden features, offering new insights into the tomb's ancient artistry. This non-invasive method, tested over a decade on Etruscan and Roman wall paintings, proves to be both quick and cost-effective, making it ideal for studying poorly preserved archaeological sites before conservation efforts.

Adinolfi, G., Carmagnola, R., Cataldi, M., Marras, L., & Palleschi, V. (2018). Recovery of a lost wall painting at the Etruscan Tomb of the Blue Demons in Tarquinia (Viterbo, Italy) by multispectral reflectometry and UV fluorescence imaging. Archaeometry, 61(2), 450–458. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/arcm.12423