Buddha’s backbone

From 19 to 22 May 2026, the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), in cooperation with the Bavarian State Archaeological Collection, hosted the second edition of the International Conference on Neutrons in Heritage Science (NHS). It followed an initial conference in Dongguan, China, in November 2024. Held within thenewly refurbished state collection in Munich, the event drew 80 experts, curators, and neutron researchers from across the globe. "Hosted by the MLZ under the historic roof of the state collection, the conference highlights the value of bringing natural scientists and museum experts together to exchange ideas and develop new approaches to study cultural heritage”, says, Prof. Dr Christian Pfleiderer, Scientific Director of the MLZ and FRM II.

Elemental fingerprint

Because neutrons penetrate easily through thick layers of heavy metals, while interacting strongly with light elements like hydrogen and carbon, they provide an unparalleled tool for looking inside fragile artefacts without causing damage. In his keynote talk, Prof. Dr Gilberto Artioli (University of Padua) gave a comprehensive overview of the different neutron techniques in analysing cultural heritage objects. While neutron radiography and tomography reveal hidden structures, Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) identifies the exact elemental composition through gamma-ray emissions, acting as an elemental “fingerprint”. Neutron diffraction complements this by uncovering crystal structures and phase compositions.

"Archaeology has always been exceptionally quick to integrate the latest analytical techniques. Through our 40 years of fruitful collaboration with the FRM II and its predecessor, the FRM, neutron science has become an indispensable tool," says Prof. Dr Rupert Gebhard, Director of the Bavarian State Archaeological Collection. 

Swords, statues, and sacred mysteries

The conference sessions showcased remarkable discoveries spanning millennia. For example, Dr Francesco Grazzi (DNR-IFAC) demonstrated how neutron tomography revealed the internal zigzag structures of 9th-to-11th-century Danish Viking swords. These blades, impressively longer than all others in Europe at the time, utilised complex pattern-welded cores for a tactical advantage in battle. 

Highlighting the neutrons’ non-invasive power, Dr Eberhard Lehmann (Paul Scherrer Institute) summarised two decades of research on over 120 sacred Asian bronzes. Neutrons successfully peered inside metallic Buddha statues, revealing hidden textiles, gems, and "life trees" – central wooden pieces resembling a human backbone. Because physically opening these statues destroys their profound religious significance, this approach is invaluable. Rupert Gebhard added: "Thanks to neutrons, nobody has to cut open a sacred Buddha figure to inspect its interior."

Bridging the disciplinary divide

The conference also catalysed essential debates regarding ethics, data communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration in the field. Humanities scholars and museum curators often lack the tools to analyse complex neutron scattering data independently, highlighting the urgent need for structural networks, standardised applications, and platforms for data sharing, as discussed in the session hosted by Dr Katharina Schmidt-Ott (Swiss National Museum) and Dr David Mannes (Paul Scherrer Institute).

"Our primary objective was to establish a bridge between researchers from large-scale neutron and X-ray facilities and the heritage community," says Dr Yong Lei from the Palace Museum in Bejing, Initiator of the NHS conference series and Programme Committee Chair. "The extraordinary collaborative spirit seen over these four days proves that solving historical puzzles requires a unified team effort. We are not just observing structures; we are developing a profound understanding of how ancient societies manufactured, traded, and preserved their world." 

The community will meet again for the next NHS conference in Mito, Japan in 2028.