3D Photogrammetry and GIS for Tracking Edge Wear Accumulation in Lithic Experiments

Summary

Digital photogrammetry is fast becoming a popular method for 3D landscape, feature, and object modelling. The ease with which photogrammetrically-derived models may be analyzed with conventional GIS software has streamlined archaeological landscape analysis. These same tools are eminently scaleable, facilitating comparable analyses of much smaller surfaces: those of lithic artifacts. Using 3D digital photogrammetry and GIS software, I propose a method to locate, define, and quantify edge damage on experimental lithic tools. By periodically recording each artifact throughout its experimental use, it becomes possible to determine the rate of wear for an edge engaged in a specific task. This will provide a useful technique for lithic analysts to establish comparative benchmarks and characteristics for application to archaeological lithic artifacts around the world, enabling a better understanding of tool curation and discard practices, as well as artifact use lives.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage