A procedural guide to metacarpal radiogrammetry in archaeology

Abstract The technique of metacarpal radiogrammetry was devised in 1960 as a clinical method to aid in the identification of thinned cortical bone, which may help in diagnosis of osteoporosis. Through taking measurements from radiographs, calculations of the amount of cortical bone can be made. The technique is relatively simple and is not destructive. This paper examines the value of the application of this technique to archaeological remains. …