It could show the geometry of the penetration channel — the path through which the fragments had entered the rib — and establish whether that geometry was consistent with an impact from outside the body rather than natural bone displacement.

It could document the density of the embedded material and compare it to the density of the surrounding rib bone, helping to establish whether the fragments were foreign to the rib or simply part of it.

And it could do all of this without touching the specimen.

The Waters team, working with co-authors from multiple institutions, applied high-resolution CT scanning to the Manis rib as part of their 2011 Science study.

The results were revelatory.