Paleoimaging: Field Applications for Cultural Remains and Artifacts

440 Pages·2009·18.19 MB·English

by  Ronald G. Beckett

Paleoimaging
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Ronald G. Beckett
Quinnipiac University
Hamden, Connecticut, USA
Gerald J. Conlogue
Quinnipiac University
Hamden, Connecticut, USA
with a Foreword by
Andrew J. Nelson, Ph.D.
Boca Raton London New York
CRC Press is an imprint of the
Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
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CRC Press
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Beckett, Ronald G.
Paleoimaging : field applications for cultural remains and artifacts / Ronald G. Beckett, Gerald J.
Conlogue.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4200-9071-0 (hardcover : alk. paper)
1. Imaging systems in archaeology. I. Conlogue, Gerald J. II. Title.
CC79.I44B43 2010
930.1--dc22 2009028071
Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at
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Dedication
Since this text is the culmination of over 40 years as a radiographer, the ἀrst
dedication is to those radiographers, Ray Gagnon, Marty Ricart, Bob Pooler, and
Charlie Maccalous, who were not only my teachers, demonstrating the science and
art of radiography, but also instilled the spirit that anything is possible. To Drs. E.
Leon Kier and John Ogden, who taught me how to formulate and carry out research.
To the late Dr. Tony Bravo, who showed me not only courage in the face of death,
but also how to enjoy life. To my son Byron, his wife Nicole, my daughter Keanau,
and my son Michael, who continue to be very accepting of my eccentricities. Last,
but certainly not least, to Shar Walbaum whose encouragement, conἀdence, and
belief in my pursuits are ultimately responsible for my success and this book.
Gerald Conlogue
This book is further dedicated to those many individuals who have helped me
to develop not only my endoscopic skills but also those who have enhanced my
understanding of pathophysiology among the living. LeRoy Johansen, Steven
McPherson, Bud Spearman, Robert Kaczmarek, Dean Hess, and Harold McAlpine,
who collectively showed me how to be a respiratory therapist, to never be satisἀed
with the status quo, and provided a model to follow in research and scholarly
work. To Drs. William Ludt and Michael McNamee, who constantly challenged
my understanding of clinical medicine and disease states and encouraged me
to know more. To Ralph “Buster” Beckett whose early 20th century work in
agricultural research sparked my desire to understand the world around me. To
my parents, Howard and Terry & Beckett, who taught me how to “play in the
sand”, no matter how old I was. To my sons Matthew, Paul, and James, and my
daughter Julie, who have been so very supportive of my interests and efforts and
from whom I have and continue to learn so much. And to my wife Katherine
Harper-Beckett, who has supported not only this project but held me up on so many
occasions with her quite strength and sincere belief in me. I am forever blessed.
Ronald Beckett
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Table of Contents
Foreword ix
Preface x i
Acknowledgments xvii
Contributing Author xix
Section I
PAleoimAging mulTimoDAliTies
1 Photography for Paleoimaging 3
Ronald Beckett and GeRald conloGue
2 Conventional Radiography 19
GeRald conloGue and Ronald Beckett
3 Computer-Based imaging 123
GeRald conloGue, Ronald Beckett, and John Posh
4 endoscopy: Field and laboratory Application
of Videoendoscopy in Anthropological
and Archaeological Research 1 85
Ronald Beckett and GeRald conloGue
Section II
PAleoimAging sTAnDARDs
5 Radiographic Procedures and standards 233
GeRald conloGue and Ronald Beckett
6 endoscopic Procedures and standards 245
Ronald Beckett and GeRald conloGue
vii
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viii table of contents
Section III
ARTiFACT AnAlysis
7 Paleoimaging the internal Context 2 65
Ronald Beckett and GeRald conloGue
8 Paleoimaging the external Context 2 93
Ronald Beckett and GeRald conloGue
9 Paleoimaging objects out of Context 311
GeRald conloGue and Ronald Beckett
Section IV
sAFeTy in The FielD seTTing
10 Field Paleoimaging safety and health Challenges 339
Ronald Beckett
11 Radiation Protection and safety 3 55
GeRald conloGue
APPenDiCes
Appendix A: Recording Form for Radiographic examination
of mummified or skeletal Remains and Artifacts 3 65
Appendix B: Recording Form for endoscopic examination
of mummified or skeletal Remains 369
Appendix C: example of Risk Assessment Documentation 3 73
Appendix D: expedition Kit list—Papua new guinea 385
Appendix e: statement of health 3 87
index 391
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Foreword
Archaeology is necessarily a destructive science, as the very process of excavation involves
the removal of objects from their original context; however, the archaeological team seeks
to maximize the nondestructive recovery of information at every step along the way from
discovery, to analysis, to conservation. The capture of images of cultural remains and arti-
facts—paleoimaging—is central to that process. In this book, Beckett and Conlogue call
upon their considerable hands-on experience to provide an in-depth examination of the
three most important imaging techniques, photography, radiography, and endoscopy, and
explain how these techniques can be applied to all aspects of archaeological and artifactual
analysis. Other authors have touched on individual aspects of this subject matter, but this
is the first volume to provide the rationale and methodology for each technique and to
synthesize them in one place. As such it is a tremendously valuable resource.
There are several significant themes that run throughout this volume that are worth
emphasizing in this foreword. They are the importance of teamwork, the concept of multi-
modal imaging, and the effective use of technology. I will address these themes in sequence.
Teamwork
Archaeology, from prospection to excavation, to analysis, to conservation, to exhibition,
is a multidisciplinary undertaking that requires coordinated contributions from many
people with many different skill sets. Beckett and Conlogue highlight the paleoimaging
team, consisting of paleoimagers and paleoimaging interpreters; however, they make the
observation that there are very few people who are specialized in either area. Thus, this
volume plays an extremely important role in developing the paleoimaging team, as it pro-
vides a common language that radiologists, archaeologists, biological anthropologists, and
radiological technicians can use. A common language leads to effective communication
and helps coordinate efforts to achieve a common goal.
multimodality
Beckett and Conlogue emphasize the term multimodal imaging, suggesting that each imag-
ing technique adds new elements to the process of information recovery. Unfortunately,
many archaeologists are not familiar with radiography or endoscopy, so these techniques are
underutilized in the discipline. This volume provides clear explanations of the value of each
imaging modality as well as the equipment required and the methods utilized. Thus, it will
play an important role in expanding the analytical horizons of archaeologists everywhere.
Beyond the basics of each imaging modality an equally important contribution of
this volume is its emphasis on creativity in terms of how the modalities are deployed.
For instance, there are very few radiological technologists who would think of taking a
ix
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