ABSTRACT
Ever since their discovery, radiographic techniques have been used to see what once could not be seen in anthropological and archaeological research. Paleoimaging as a discipline is based on the foundation of various research reports and presentations at scientific meetings. Too often, these reports do not provide future researchers with enough information about the imaging project that would allow reproducing the application. Further, reports that suggest the imaging data did not yield usable information or that misinterpretations were made from imaging data are often the result of inappropriately applied data collection variables. In this chapter, we offer a standardized method for radiographic paleoimaging reporting
Introduction 233 Recommended Reporting Standards for Radiographic Paleoimaging Applications 234
Situational Variables 234 Instrumentation 234 Data Acquisition Parameters 235 Special Procedure Protocol 235 Data Collection Record 235 Standards for Radiographic Paleoimaging Procedures in Anthropological and Archaeological Research 236 Visual Inspection 236 Establish Research Objectives 237 Photography 237 Consideration of Complementary Modalities 238 Initial Radiographic Survey 238 Survey of Body Cavities and Artifacts 238 Refinement of Imaging and Target Analysis 240 Procedural Documentation 241 Postprocedure Conference and Data Review 241
Recommended Radiographic Exposure and Application Considerations 241 Conventional Radiography 241 Computed Radiography 242 Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) 242 Magnetic Resonance (MR) 243
Conclusion 243 Reference 243
and procedural applications. These recommendations are based on years of focused practice in radiographic paleoimaging research and are intended to promote common practice in radiographic paleoimaging. If common practices are adopted, field and laboratory research may become more productive and efficient, and the collection of usable data less prone to misinterpretation will be enhanced. With common practice in radiographic paleoimaging reporting and procedures, studies will be more reproducible and therefore serve to educate current and future paleoimaging scientists as well as other professionals involved in anthropological and archaeological research. Much of the content of this chapter is derived from a presentation made at the at the VI World Congress on Mummy Studies, held in February 2007 in Teguise, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain (Conlogue et al. 2007).
