Digital cameras are capable of producing images of cut marks and other thre
e dimensional subjects comparable to those obtained from the scanning elect
ron microscope (SEM). Until now, the SEM has offered unparalleled depth of
field and surface rendition. SEM units are, however, expensive to acquire a
nd maintain, and SEM image production is time-intensive. Furthermore, SEM i
mages lack color and are often incapable of imaging bone modifications beca
use of magnification and chamber size limitations. A digital imaging method
for producing extremely high depth of field enlargements of three dimensio
nal, sub-millimeter scale objects circumvents these problems, In our presen
tation we employ four case studies of hard tissue modification related to:
(1) the origins of meat-eating in the human lineage; (2) evidence for canni
balistic behavior among Neanderthals; (3) pre-Columbian evidence of North A
merican dentistry; and (4) the earliest evidence of cranial surgery in Nort
h America. Procedures for replica production, image-capture, and image enha
ncement are provided. The digital images produced are compared to those obt
ained with the SEM. Image processing software, a crucial component of this
method, allows complete control of graphic data, making graphic fraud a lar
ger threat than ever before. Issues in ethics stemming from the application
of this technology to scientific analysis are considered, Anat Rec (New An
at) 261:237-246, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.