Quantitative Use-Wear Analysis with ImageJ

Summary

Traditional use-wear analysis is mostly subjective and requires considerable experience. Researchers have tried image analyzing software to quantify use-wear patterns; however, the cost of software and the lack of training to use the software made common adoption of the approach less practical.

In this research, we tested the open source software ImageJ for use-wear measurement in two-dimensional images. The results show that the software can reliably quantify the polish development, the polish microtopography, and the dimensions and numbers of worn areas in image samples taken from both experimental and archaeological specimens.

Compared to the software previously employed in two-dimensional quantitative use-wear analysis, ImageJ has the advantage of being a free, public domain software which also allows developers around the world to create plug-ins to meet specific research needs. With this software, it is now possible to popularize quantitative use-wear analysis, even for the use-wear images taken in past, traditional use-wear projects.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15191