Yikes, no comparative collection! Can 3D imaging produce robust faunal identifications?

Summary

Most zooarchaeologists are familiar with the uncertain feeling when faced with identifying material in the absence of a physical comparative collection. In response to this challenge, numerous photographic atlases have been produced to provide researchers with access to collections while in the field. Unfortunately, 2D images are constrained by their inability to be ‘handled’ and measured in the same way as a physical specimen. The UNE Archaeology virtual bone project was initially developed as a pedagogical tool to teach distance students faunal analysis in an online environment. Human and animal bones were scanned to generate easily accessible 3D models that could be ‘handled’ and measured. Given our field is predicated first and foremost on physical specimen ID – we received quite a few sceptical looks for this approach. In this talk, we present our virtual bone project and test its ability to facilitate robust identification of osteoarchaeological remains. We compare the ability of students trained the traditional, hands-on way to those trained in the virtual classroom, to accurately identify material from an archaeological faunal assemblage. We then present the identification results of several ‘experienced’ zooarchaeologists using the tool – and the results just may surprise you.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Rethinking Methods of Faunal Analysis   •
• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15603