THz imaging studies of painted samples to guide cultural heritage investigations at the Enkleistra of St. Neophytos in Paphos, Cyprus

Terahertz (THz) imaging demonstrates potential to reveal concealed Byzantine wall paintings beneath layers of lead white, addressing limitations faced by traditional imaging techniques. This study repurposed a THz medical imaging system, originally designed for tissue hydration sensing, to achieve high-contrast imagery of painted plaster samples. The findings show sufficient contrast for feature identification even when obscured by thin layers of lead white or chalk, suggesting the technique's viability for in situ analysis at the Enkleistra of St. Neophytos in Paphos, Cyprus. Preliminary results highlight THz imaging's ability to probe beneath visible surfaces, though further research is needed to optimize spatial resolution and penetration depth.

Radpour, R., Bajwa, N., Garritano, J., Sung, S., Balonis-Sant, M., Tewari, P., Grundfest, W., Kakoulli, I., & Taylor, Z. (2014). THz imaging studies of painted samples to guide cultural heritage investigations at the Enkleistra of St. Neophytos in Paphos, Cyprus. Terahertz Emitters, Receivers, and Applications V, 9199, 91990Q. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2062228