AN INTRODUCTION TO PALEORADIOGRAPHY
Practical physics and research potential
Welcome!
Thank you for joining this short online course concerning paleoradiography - the use of X-rays in archaeology! The course provides an overview of how radiography is used in archaeology, covering some fundamental theoretical concepts and research possibilities.
This course has been assessed and approved as continual professional development training by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists and Register of Professional Archaeologists. You will gain four hours of CPD training which may contribute towards your requirements as an accredited archaeologist. Or it may just boost your CV! The Course Handbook provides details about the National Occupational Standards which are supported. I have also provided an appendix file with example X-rays of paleopathologies and trauma.
The Course Map below provides you with direct links to each part of the course. Alternatively, you can click here to see all parts of the course. You may visit any part of this course in any order, although the concepts and examples have been arranged to allow incremental learning in a logical manner.
There are quizzes at the end of each section to test yourself but will not contribute towards the completion of the course. To gain your certificate you will need to enter your name and any comments into the form at the end of Part 4 - Paleoradiography in Research.
Finally, you will see a message from me and a short glossary of terms towards the end of this webpage. A list of frequently asked questions are shown in the Help and Contact page, along with an explanation of the course icons.
Core documents
Course Map
Part 1 - Core concepts
1.4 How are x-rays used in archaeology?
Part 2 - Image brightness and contrast
2.3 Object density and image greyscale
Part 3 - Radiographic technique
3.2 What is radiographic technique?
Part 4 - Paleoradiography in research
4.5 Summary, quiz and completion of course
About the tutor
My involvement in archaeology began when I went to study at Newcastle University where I graduated in 2004 with a BSc in Archaeology with Bioarchaeological Science. Although I moved into diagnostic radiography, my interest in archaeology remained. Since gaining another BSc in Diagnostic Radiography in 2008 I began a career in the National Health Service, working in hospitals across the South East of England. With a Masters in Forensic Radiography (in 2019) and a new teaching role at Canterbury Christ Church University I began to knit the two disciplines together - archaeology and radiography.
Working in an academic capacity has allowed me access to specimens of archaeological interest and the freedom to research the potential of paleoradiography. This short course is the culmination of my research efforts to date, using examples from my own imaging sessions or the published research I have located.
The content and design of this course is the results of a substantial project investigating online learning preferences of undergraduate archaeology students. Over a two month period in 2021 I invited 100 students from around the world to complete this course and provide feedback. The results of which are shown in the Projects section of this website and on the Journal of Archaeology and Education website. The constructive and insightful comments by those students have shaped this course to what it is now - my thanks goes to them.
You will notice that I am rather flexible with my spelling - paleoradiography instead of palaeoradiography and gray instead of grey. On the whole I use British spellings, but I'm less constrained for some terms.
James
Key Terminology
For those who are new to the discipline of paleoimaging and paleoradiography the following definitions will help you understand the language used during the course or within the reading material. Numerous terms have been taken from the medical context. Whilst not wanting to be biased towards hospital terminology, there are several important terms that need to be explained that would otherwise cause confusion.
Radiology
The discipline of medical imaging in healthcare. Typically this involves radiation, such as X-rays and computed tomography, but also other imaging technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound.
Paleoradiology, palaeoradiology
The use of medical imaging technologies to investigate archaeological objects or specimens of cultural significance.
An X-ray, radiograph, roentgenograph, roentgenograms, radiogram, X-ray photograph
All the same thing! This is the end-product, i.e. the creation of a two-dimensional image of a three dimensional object. During this course the terms X-ray and radiograph shall be used to describe the images produced during paleoradiography.
X-raying, radiography, roentgenography, X-ray photography, X-radiography
All the same thing! This is the process of acquiring the X-ray image. It can be thought of as a verb, the act of radiographic imaging, or as a profession. During this course the term radiography shall be used to describe the act of image acquisition.
Paleoradiography, palaeoradiography
The use of radiography to investigate archaeological objects or specimens of cultural significance.
Radiographer, radiologic technologists, medical radiation technologists
All the same thing! These are different names for the staff who use X-rays in the healthcare setting. Diagnostic radiographers use X-rays and a variety of other technologies to help identify and monitor disease or trauma. Therapeutic radiographers use X-rays to manage cancer. Other forms of radiographers also exist, for example industrial radiographers who use imaging to assess structural integrity.
Radiologist
A doctor who has received specialist training for the interpretation of radiological imaging. This includes radiographs, computed tomography scans, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound and many more. Radiologists may specialise in a specific field of radiology or pathology. Within paleoradiography a radiologist is useful to help identify pathologies or trauma when imaging human bones. In the United Kingdom the roles of radiographers have been up-skilled, allowing post-graduate training to perform similar X-ray interpretation.