Does it measure up? An Experimental Study of Hell Gap Ground Stone

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Digitizing the Past: Studying Ancient Ground Stone Toolkits Using Modern Technology" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The Hell Gap National Historic Landmark (NHL) has yielded many ground stone artifacts that have yet to be analyzed. Ground stone artifacts can expand our understanding of Folsom lithic technologies. Ground stone tool collections are cumbersome and difficult to access. Many researchers are solving this problem by creating 3D models of these artifacts. But this leads to the question; can these 3D models be trusted as a substitute for measuring the artifact itself? Using artifact HGI UI-8250 found at the Hell Gap site this study examines the differences in measurements made on the artifact and on the 3D models of the artifact. The 3D models were created via photogrammetry and assembled on Metashape. We will be measuring landmarks from the actual artifact and comparing the results to measurements made on chucks of the 3D model and measurements made on a complete render of the artifact. Results will contribute to our understanding of 3D model methodology and ground stone analysis.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Digitizing the Past: Studying Ancient Ground Stone Toolkits Using Modern Technology   •
• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 51570