The Antikythera Mechanism is a complex geared mechanism that is over 2000 years old. The remains of the device were first discovered in 1902 when archaeologist Valerios Stais noticed a heavily corroded gear wheel amongst artifacts recovered by sponge divers from a sunken Roman cargo ship. The Mechanism is now thought to date from 150 to 100 BC.
The mechanism, often described as the world's first mechanical computer, was used to calculate and display astronomical cycles. It could have been used to accurately predict lunar and solar eclipses. The mechanism is technically more complex than any known device constructed for at least a millennium afterwards.
In October 2005 the Antikythera Mechanism was imaged in Athens by the Antikythera Mechanism Research Project using a specially modified Venlo* cabinet system manufactured by Shaw Inspection Systems and fitted with a ground breaking 400kV microfocus x-ray source designed and built by X-Tek Systems.
The two week imaging campaign involved the acquisition of high resolution Digital Radiographs (DR), Computed Tomography (CT) data, as well as some large format Computed Radiography (CR) images. This imagery has been instrumental in a number of new discoveries concerning the Mechanism's function and purpose.
* The Venlo range of cabinet systems is sold exclusively through X-Tek Systems Limited.
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