Ronald G. Beckett and Gerald J. Conlogue: Paleoimaging: field applications for cultural remains and artifacts

Excerpt

The book entitled Paleoimaging: Field Applications for Cultural Remains and Artifacts represents a valuable reference for the subset of archaeologists and curators whose research is heavily influenced by the constraints associated with the collection and analysis of fragile mummified remains. Practitioners in search of a detailed, well informed review of the available technologies and their relative advantages and disadvantages will benefit from this book during the project design and funding processes. However, there are few references to contexts that are more generally applicable, thereby potentially limiting the audience that would apply the techniques in the specific manner described. On the other hand both the detail and real world examples presented in the book encourage consideration of the possible applications of these technologies in other field contexts. In other words, the book is focused on mummies as the primary context in which these technologies have been applied, but others, including bioarchaeologists and forensic anthropologists may benefit in ways not specifically described in the text. There are undoubtedly less traditional uses for these technologies for those whose material falls on the opposite side of the taphonomic spectrum from the well preserved mummies used as examples in this text. Recording the location of human remains in relation to surrounding matrix in cases of poor preservation, tissue damage, or commingling is an example. …