A comparative analysis of DStretch© and alternative image enhancement techniques for identifying tattoos in archaeological contexts

Tattooing is a cultural practice that extends at least 5,300 years into the human past, and preserved tattoos are found on human remains in archaeological and museum collections around the world. Taphonomic processes often render these marks faint or indecipherable to the naked eye. Identifying and creating legacy documentation of these perishable materials is greatly aided by the use of alternative digital imaging technologies. This paper assesses the efficacy of the DStretch© digital image enhancement technique as a low-cost, non-destructive means to detect and reconstruct tattoos from archaeological contexts. A comparison of results using DStretch© and other image enhancement techniques demonstrates that this approach can be used to consistently enhance visible tattoos and also aid in detecting marks that are not initially visible.