A recent report suggesting perceivedlimitations of and opportunities in the study of paleopathology suggested theimportance of incorporation of scientific methodologies. It seems reasonableto also explore how those methodologies are developed and, indeed, how oneapproaches paleopathology as a science. The development of one suchpaleopathologist is delineated from his serendipitous observations toapplication of hypothesis generation and subsequent testing approachdeveloped during basic medical science education. This approach resulted inrecognition of how much he thought he knew was actually contrary to thefacts. A critical factor was the collaborative approach with specialists inother fields, wherein linguistic confusion was overcome and perspectivesrefined by point–counterpoint analysis of hypotheses. The limitedreliability of tertiary information was clearly exposed through examinationof primary sources – original articles rather than what might be referred to as "meta-analyses".

It became clear that linguistics was not the only challenge; application oftechniques had to be observed and validated. Without validation one mightobtain precision (method repeatedly reveals same results) butat the expense of accuracy (assurance thatthe method actually assesses the question). Paleontological studies aregenerally limited to examination of organisms and their traces.Archeologically based studies incorporate additional sources of information(e.g., historic), but are no less subject to such semantic and methodologicalissues. Proof of concept studies provided new windows to recognition not onlyof disease but to previous anatomical challenges (e.g., localization ofdirect muscle attachment sites and distribution). Trans-phylogeneticrepresentation of disease falsified speculation that "evolution" wouldpreclude analysis through time. Pathology is an intrinsic component of lifeand transcends both species and time. Knowledge gained in a given species andtime can be applied to similar disease manifestations in other species inmodern time. Once speculations were tested and either verified or falsified,paleo-epidemiologic approach allowed identification of patterns of spread andeven application of that knowledge to recognition of human migrationpatterns. Proof of concept studies provided new windows to recognition notonly of disease but to previous anatomical challenges (e.g., localization ofdirect muscle attachment sites and distribution).