Reflectance Transformation Imaging of selected skeletal trauma from Iron and Viking-Age Scandinavia: a BODY-POLITICS dataset

Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) was implemented as a photographic method in a study of traumatic injury in human remains from settlement contexts in Iron and Viking Age Scandinavia, to document and further analyse instances of trauma observed (namely, Individual 1 – X2753, Individual 4 – X558, and Individual 11 – 4278-PF). RTI utilises a series of variably-lighted photographs of the remains to create a 2.5D model which enhances surface variations in an interactive digital image, allowing for a more detailed examination of subtle colour and surface alterations such as for example tool impressions and trauma traces on bone (Clarke and Christensen 2016; Lum 2011).    ReferencesClarke, S., and A.M. Christensen. 2016. “Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) of saw marks on bones”, Journal of Forensic Radiology and Imaging  7: 33-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jofri.2016.11.004Lum, M. 2011. “Reflectance Transformation Imaging: Guide to Highlight Image Processing” [online]. Cultural Heritage Imaging, accessed September 28, 2025. https://culturalheritageimaging.org/Technologies/RTI/