Penn Museum Unveils Invisible Beauty: The Art of Archaeological Science
Invisible Beauty: The Art of Archaeological Science peers inside a fascinating, unseen world undetectable by the naked eye. Using innovative technology such as high-powered digital microscopes, x-radiography, and multimodal imaging that employs ultra-violet and infrared light to expose hidden information, this special exhibition uncovers the past’s bigger picture.
Through a series of stunning images, enlarged photographs, x-rays, and magnetic gradiometry, which helps archaeologists map out what's underground without digging, Invisible Beauty reveals details that clear up mysteries about past human behavior, unlocking the wonder of the human story.
Showing multiple scales, Invisible Beauty invites guests to take a closer look at a tiny diatom (the fossil of a single-cell organism) at 26,000 magnification and immerse themselves in a representation of an ancient city (Zincirli in present-day Turkey).
The exhibition also highlights the important role of research in archaeological discovery, including undergraduate student research opportunities at the University of Pennsylvania and the cutting-edge work conducted by leading professionals inside the Museum’s Center for the Analysis of Archaeological Materials (CAAM).
By meticulously examining everything from microstructure of metals to the concealed decoration on ancient sculptures, researchers are able to answer questions about the past that surround tools, trade, diet, health, and the environment at the time.
And now, Invisible Beauty expands access to this important work, offering visitors of the Penn Museum first-hand viewing of small specimens and large landscapes, alongside some of the artifacts themselves.
Invisible Beauty: The Art of Archaeological Science opens January 16, 2021.
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About the Penn Museum
The Penn Museum’s mission is to be a center for inquiry and the ongoing exploration of humanity for our University of Pennsylvania, regional, national, and global communities, following ethical standards and practices.
Through conducting research, stewarding collections, creating learning opportunities, sharing stories, and creating experiences that expand access to archaeology and anthropology, the Museum builds empathy and connections across diverse cultures
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