In 1986, an exhibit entitled "Science Looks at Art: Insights" was mounted at the Krannert Art Museum. One of the objects featured was a wooden sculpture of Fudo-Myoo, a Buddhist deity.
Stylistically, the appearance of the Fudo-Myoo pointed to a late 12th century A.D. date. However, the date could not be confirmed until the curator knew the construction method of the statue. Carving from a single block of wood would argue for an earlier date, whereas carving from multiple blocks of wood would confirm a date of mid-eleventh century or later. The multiple-block technique allowed for a division of sculpting tasks and resulted in faster production, a significant technological advance.
X-ray radiography is a non-destructive imaging technique that can expose structural details invisible to the naked eye. X-rays of the statue showed very clearly how multiple blocks of wood were used to carve the head and neck, the arms, the torso, and the lower legs as separate units. The pieces were joined using a rectangular "mortise and tenon" technique. Three modern nails, used to repair the statue before its arrival at the Museum, were also revealed.
In this case, the stylistic date was confirmed by the evidence of the X-rays. For a fuller description, see the "Insights" exhibition catalogue published by the museum and other reference under Insights publication and credits.
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