X-Ray can be a useful tool to examine the internal structure of an artefact. In the slideshow above are four examples of where additional information was obtained that was useful for treating the object.

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The first and second slides show an 18th century Queen Anne style painted wooden doll. The brightness of the image, and placement of darker patches suggested that the paint was metal based, and spot testing confirmed that it was likely flake white, a lead based paint. This meant that additional PPE was needed when working with the doll, and it altered the possible treatment options.

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The other notable features on the doll are the iron pins extending into the head (used to secure a wig), and the stripes across the legs, believed to be from woodworm. As an x-ray was taken before the clothes were removed, the hook fastening of the dress, and the aglet of the stays' lacing are also visible behind the body.

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The next image is an Anglo-Saxon buckle excavated in Lincolnshire. The x-ray showed that there was no damage to the integral structure of the buckle, aside from a group of crescent shaped indentations. Since this slight weakness was known, more care could be taken when mechanically cleaning the buckle, and it was decided that the artefact was stable enough to be treated in a vacuum chamber.

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An iron spearhead was discovered in the same excavation, covered with a thick layer of soil and corrosion. The -xray showed that there was a solid core, though damage near the point had left the metal very thin and fragile there. To avoid applying too much pressure on the fault, the corrosion was removed using an air abrasive rather than a scalpel or glass bristle brush.

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The final slide shows an iron sickle found in Shropshire. The layers of iron are delaminating, and the x-ray appears to show bubbles from chloride corrosion throughout the body, not only on the surface where it is visible. While there are no cracks in the metal, the body of the sickle seems insubstantial, especially near the edge.