From Sanxingdui to Shanxi Ancient Tombs: Innovative Applications of Hyperspectral Imaging in Cultural Relics Archaeology

三星堆遺址(zhǐ)的(dí)考古(gǔ)發現持續為(wéi)我們揭(jiē)示(shì)古(gǔ)蜀文明的奧(ào)秘，而(ér)支撐這些發(fā)現背後的(dí)，是一項(xiàng)正(zhèng)在革(gé)新考古(gǔ)學(xué)研(yán)究方(fāng)法的技術(shù)——高光譜成像。在最(zuì)近的三(sān)星(xīng)堆考(kǎo)古工作(zuò)中，這(zhè)項技(jì)術已成(chéng)功(gōng)應用(yòng)於(yú)青銅(tóng)器(qì)等(děng)珍(zhēn)貴文物的(dí)無損(sǔn)檢(jiǎn)測，幫(bāng)助(zhù)研究人(rén)員(yuán)發現了(liǎo)許多(duō)被時間掩埋(mái)的(dí)歷史(shǐ)細節(jié)。

高光(guāng)譜(pǔ)成(chéng)像(xiàng)技術(shù)通過(guò)采(cǎi)集(jí)數百個(gè)連續波(bō)段(duàn)的(dí)光譜(pǔ)信息，實(shí)現(xiàn)文物"圖(tú)譜合一"的(dí)精準檢(jiǎn)測，既能記錄空間(jiān)形態，又(yòu)能分(fēn)析物質組成(chéng)，為考古研究提供(gōng)多維數據支(zhī)撐。本文以(yǐ)兩(liǎng)個(gè)案例(lì)為(wéi)切入點，闡述高光譜(pǔ)成(chéng)像(xiàng)技(jì)術在文物(wù)考古領(lǐng)域(yù)的創新應用。

The archaeological discoveries at the Sanxingdui site continue to unveil the mysteries of the ancient Shu civilization, supported by a technology revolutionizing archaeological research methods—hyperspectral imaging. In recent Sanxingdui excavations, this technology has been successfully applied to non-destructive testing of precious artifacts such as bronze ware and ivory, helping researchers uncover historical details long buried by time.

Hyperspectral imaging captures spectral information across hundreds of continuous bands, enabling precise "image-spectrum integration" detection of cultural relics. It records spatial morphology while analyzing material composition, providing multidimensional data support for archaeological research. This article explores two case studies to illustrate the innovative applications of hyperspectral imaging in cultural relics archaeology.

三星(xīng)堆(duī)文物(wù)，圖(tú)片來源網(wǎng)絡(luò) / Sanxingdui artifacts, image source: internet

「三星堆：探尋(xún)古(gǔ)蜀(shǔ)文明的奧秘」

「Sanxingdui: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Ancient Shu Civilization」

三(sān)星堆(duī)遺址(zhǐ)作為20世紀最偉大(dà)的(dí)考古(gǔ)發現之一，其(qí)出土的(dí)青銅(tóng)器等文物具(jù)有(yǒu)高歷史(shǐ)價值。然(rán)而(ér)，傳統分(fēn)析(xī)方(fāng)法(fǎ)如X射綫熒光分析，電子探針等存在明顯局限：要(yào)麼具有接觸破壞(huài)性，要麼隻能(néng)反映(yìng)局部特(tè)征。中(zhōng)科院西安(ān)光機所聯合(hé)西(xī)北(běi)工業(yè)大(dà)學(xué)的研(yán)究團(tuán)隊將(jiāng)高(gāo)光譜(pǔ)成(chéng)像技術(shù)應用於這一(yī)領(lǐng)域(yù)，實現(xiàn)了文物保(bǎo)護與(yǔ)研究(jiū)的雙重突(tū)破。

As one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, the Sanxingdui site’s bronze ware, ivory, and other artifacts hold immense historical value. However, traditional analytical methods like X-ray fluorescence and electron microprobe have significant limitations—either being contact-destructive or only reflecting localized features. A research team from the Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (Chinese Academy of Sciences) and Northwestern Polytechnical University applied hyperspectral imaging in this field, achieving breakthroughs in both cultural relic preservation and research.

遺址文物數據(jù) / Archaeological site artifact data

該團隊(duì)構建(jiàn)了一(yī)套(tào)完整的(dí)高(gāo)光(guāng)譜(pǔ)文物(wù)分析技(jì)術體(tǐ)係，在多(duō)個關(guān)鍵環節實現(xiàn)創(chuàng)新(xīn)突破。

在(zài)數據(jù)采集與(yǔ)處(chǔ)理(lǐ)環(huán)節，開(kāi)發了(liǎo)基於(yú)相對坐(zuò)標(biāo)的(dí)區(qū)域(yù)拼接算(suàn)法，通(tōng)過精確計算重疊區域麵(miàn)積和多(duō)尺度特(tè)征匹配，大(dà)幅(fú)提升了(liǎo)多(duō)軌圖像拼(pīn)接效率。該算法采(cǎi)用Dense SIFT算(suàn)子進(jìn)行快(kuài)速特(tè)征(zhēng)提取，再通過RANSAC算法消除(chú)誤(wù)匹配(pèi)點，實(shí)現無縫拼接(jiē)。

在(zài)特征提取(qǔ)方(fāng)麵，創新(xīn)性地將空間(jiān)注(zhù)意力機製(zhì)引(yǐn)入(rù)HRNet網絡架(jià)構，通過(guò)特(tè)征圖分解和(hé)ResNet結構聚合(hé)，顯著提(tí)升了高分辨率圖像的空(kōng)間定位精(jīng)度。同時構建(jiàn)了金字(zì)塔3D殘差網(wǎng)絡，采用漸進(jìn)式特征維度(dù)增(zēng)長(cháng)策略，實現了對812個(gè)波段(duàn)光(guāng)譜特征(zhēng)的深度(dù)解(jiě)析(xī)。

該技術在實(shí)際應用中(zhōng)展現出優(yōu)秀的性能，已成功(gōng)處理(lǐ)821幀不同(tóng)分(fēn)辨率的高(gāo)光譜圖像(xiàng)。通過(guò)對比(bǐ)實驗，最(zuì)終采(cǎi)用(yòng)視覺映(yìng)射模型(xíng)的數據(jù)-決(jué)策級(jí)融合方(fāng)案，使青銅(tóng)器等目標的平均識別準(zhǔn)確率(shuài)達(dá)到0.84，ROC曲綫(xiàn)分析顯示AUC值較傳統方(fāng)法提升15%以上。

The team developed a comprehensive hyperspectral analysis system for cultural relics, making innovative advances in multiple key areas.

In data acquisition and processing, they created a region-stitching algorithm based on relative coordinates, significantly improving multi-track image stitching efficiency through precise overlap area calculation and multi-scale feature matching. The algorithm employs the Dense SIFT operator for rapid feature extraction, followed by the RANSAC algorithm to eliminate mismatched points, achieving seamless stitching.

For feature extraction, they innovatively integrated a spatial attention mechanism into the HRNet architecture, enhancing spatial localization accuracy in high-resolution images through feature map decomposition and ResNet-based aggregation. They also constructed a pyramid 3D residual network, adopting a progressive feature dimension growth strategy to enable in-depth analysis of spectral features across 812 bands.

This technology demonstrated exceptional performance in practical applications, successfully processing 821 frames of hyperspectral images at varying resolutions. Comparative experiments led to the adoption of a data-decision-level fusion scheme based on a visual mapping model, achieving an average recognition accuracy of 0.84 for targets like ivory and bronze ware. ROC curve analysis showed a 15%+ improvement in AUC values compared to traditional methods.

算法(fǎ)流(liú)程(chéng)圖 / Algorithm Flowchart

「山西古墓(mù)：解(jiě)讀(dú)地下的(dí)歷史篇章」

「Shanxi Ancient Tombs: Deciphering Buried Historical Narratives」

山西南部(bù)某古墓底部(bù)存在大(dà)量(liáng)黑色殘(cán)留物，這些疑(yí)似古代文字(zì)或圖(tú)案的痕(hén)跡因年代(dài)久遠和(hé)環(huán)境侵(qīn)蝕，肉眼已(yǐ)難(nán)以(yǐ)辨(biàn)識(shí)。北(běi)京建(jiàn)築(zhù)大(dà)學(xué)與山(shān)西省(shěng)考古研究所(suǒ)聯合團隊采用高(gāo)光譜成像係統（波(bō)長範圍(wéi)400-1000nm，光譜分(fēn)辨率0.6nm）對這一考古(gǔ)難(nán)題展開(kāi)研(yán)究。

The bottom of an ancient tomb in southern Shanxi contained numerous black residues—faint traces suspected to be ancient writing or patterns, rendered nearly invisible to the naked eye due to age and environmental erosion. A joint team from Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture and the Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology employed a hyperspectral imaging system (wavelength range: 400–1000 nm, spectral resolution: 0.6 nm) to study this archaeological challenge.

古墓底(dǐ)部(bù)的照片，及(jí)實(shí)驗區域的(dí)高光譜(pǔ)圖像 / Photos of the tomb floor and hyperspectral images of the experimental area

研究(jiū)團(tuán)隊開發了完整的(dí)高(gāo)光譜分析(xī)流(liú)程(chéng)：首(shǒu)先通過輻(fú)射校(xiào)正(zhèng)公式轉換數據，有(yǒu)效消(xiāo)除了儀器(qì)噪(zào)聲和光(guāng)照幹(gān)擾；然(rán)後篩(shāi)選950個有效(xiào)波(bō)段，利(lì)用主成(chéng)分分(fēn)析（PCA）濃縮(suō)信息(xī)；創新(xīn)提(tí)出兩(liǎng)個(gè)特征指(zhǐ)數(shù)公式優(yōu)化(huà)目標(biāo)識別(bié)；最(zuì)後運用多(duō)種形態(tài)學算(suàn)法組合(hé)，生(shēng)成15種(zhǒng)處理方(fāng)案(àn)，為考(kǎo)古(gǔ)人(rén)員提供了豐富的參(cān)考(kǎo)選擇(zé)。

從(cóng)考古價(jià)值來看，研究提供(gōng)的多(duō)版本形(xíng)態學處(chǔ)理結(jié)果成功(gōng)重建(jiàn)了(liǎo)古墓底(dǐ)部疑(yí)似文(wén)字(zì)的連(lián)貫圖案，這些(xiē)圖案(àn)在(zài)傳(chuán)統檢測(cè)手(shǒu)段下無法辨(biàn)識。這一發現(xiàn)不僅為(wéi)解讀(dú)該(gāi)墓葬的文化內(nèi)涵(hán)提供了(liǎo)全(quán)新(xīn)實(shí)物證據(jù)，更展示了高光譜技(jì)術(shù)在非接(jiē)觸考(kǎo)古檢測(cè)中的巨(jù)大潛力。

The team developed a complete hyperspectral analysis workflow: first converting data via radiometric correction formulas to eliminate instrument noise and lighting interference; then selecting 950 effective bands and condensing information using principal component analysis (PCA); innovatively proposing two feature index formulas to optimize target identification; and finally applying a combination of morphological algorithms to generate 15 processing schemes, providing archaeologists with rich reference options.

From an archaeological perspective, the multi-version morphological processing results successfully reconstructed coherent patterns of suspected writing on the tomb floor—patterns entirely undetectable using traditional methods. This discovery not only offers new physical evidence for interpreting the tomb’s cultural significance but also highlights the immense potential of hyperspectral technology in non-contact archaeological detection.

數據處(chǔ)理(lǐ)流程 / Data Processing Workflow

光(guāng)譜(pǔ)曲(qū)綫 / Spectral Curve

「結(jié)語(yǔ)  / Conclusion」

高光譜成像技術(shù)正(zhèng)在(zài)為(wéi)文物(wù)考(kǎo)古(gǔ)提(tí)供(gōng)了新(xīn)的(dí)技術路徑，幫助(zhù)我們揭(jiē)開歷史(shǐ)塵封(fēng)的麵紗(shā)。這(zhè)項(xiàng)技術不僅(jǐn)守護(hù)著(zhuó)文物(wù)安全，更讓(ràng)千(qiān)年(nián)文明得(dé)以延(yán)續傳(chuán)承(chéng)。

Hyperspectral imaging is forging a new technological path for cultural relics archaeology, helping lift the veil of history. This technology not only safeguards artifacts but also ensures the enduring legacy of millennia-old civilizations.

案(àn)例(lì)來(lái)源 / Source：

1. Qiu, S., Zhang, P., Tang, X., Zeng, Z., Zhang, M. et al. (2023). Sanxingdui Cultural Relics Recognition Algorithm Based on Hyperspectral Multi-Network Fusion. Computers, Materials & Continua, 77(3), 3783–3800.

2. Yang, X., Hou1, M., Lyu, S., Ma, S., Gao, Z., Bai, S., Gu, M., Liu, Y., & Hou, M. (2018). INFORMATION EXTRACTION IN TOMB PIT USING HYPERSPECTRAL DATA. ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 2107-2111.