A Feasibility Study for Imaging Queen Medb's Cairn using Muon Tomography

We evaluated the feasibility of employing muon tomography to image the internal structure of Queen Medb's Cairn, a neolithic monument on Knocknarea Mountain, Ireland. Muon tomography exploits cosmic-ray muons to provide high-resolution, non-invasive imaging of large and dense structures. Using the GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulation framework, we assessed various detector locations and data acquisition periods to optimize imaging performance. Our simulations demonstrated that subsurface detector configurations yield significantly higher muon flux compared to surface placements, enhancing the sensitivity of detection. Analysis of simulated data indicates that with approximately 100 days of data acquisition, the presence of a chamber with dimensions as small as 4 × 4 × 4 meters can be reliably identified. This technique offers a promising approach for revealing internal features of archaeological structures while preserving their structural integrity.