The use of Micro-Photogrammetry and Geometric Morphometrics for identifying carnivore agency in bone assemblages

Yravedra, José; Vargas, Elena García; Maté-González, Miguel Ángel; Aramendi, Julia; Palomeque-González, Juan Francisco; Vallés-Iriso, Javier; Matesanz-Vicente, Jorge; González‐Aguilera, Diego; Domı́nguez-Rodrigo, Manuel

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.05.043

Cited by 40 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 34 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…BSM analysis remains to be a very important component of taphonomic studies, whereby their identification and in-depth analysis can reveal multiple components regarding early hominin populations [11][12][13][14][15], their development [6,7,23], and their associated paleoecologies [14,24,28]. Nevertheless, issues imposed by equifinality have led to complications in their identification and interpretation [1][2][3][4][5], requiring more objective and empirical methods that can be used for BSM classification and characterization [21][22][23][24][25][26][27]30,58].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The implementation of Geometric Morphometric studies has been able to reveal a means of inferring different tool use [21] as well as raw material management [21][22][23] through cut mark morphologies. Moreover, when applied to the carnivore induced BSMs, analysts have been able to differentiate between carnivore agents based on tooth mark morphologies [24][25][26][27]. The innovative introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in taphonomy [26][27][28][29][30][31] has additionally been able to overcome multiple barriers imposed by subjectivity [32].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A Hybrid Geometric Morphometric Deep Learning Approach for Cut and Trampling Mark Classification

et al. 2019

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The concept of equifinality is currently one of the largest issues in taphonomy, frequently leading analysts to erroneously interpret the formation and functionality of archaeological and paleontological sites. An example of this equifinality can be found in the differentiation between anthropic cut marks and other traces on bone produced by natural agents, such as that of sedimentary abrasion and trampling. These issues are a key component in the understanding of early human evolution, yet frequently rely on qualitative features for their identification. Unfortunately, qualitative data is commonly susceptible to subjectivity, producing insecurity in research through analyst experience. The present study intends to confront these issues through a hybrid methodological approach. Here, we combine Geometric Morphometric data, 3D digital microscopy, and Deep Learning Neural Networks to provide a means of empirically classifying taphonomic traces on bone. Results obtained are able to reach over 95% classification, providing a possible means of overcoming taphonomic equifinality in the archaeological and paleontological register.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Hybrid Geometric Morphometric Deep Learning Approach for Cut and Trampling Mark Classification

et al. 2019

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Some studies have suggested that virtual reconstruction and geometric morphometric taphonomic analyses are only accurate enough when SEM or other microscopy technology is used [ 66 ], but a recent study [ 29 ] has shown that micro-photogrammetric techniques offer similar results to those obtained using microscopes. The development of new methodologies applied to the study of taphonomic processes, initiated by [ 67 – 69 ], and continued by [ 27 – 29 ] with applications to the study of cut marks, and tooth marks [ 31 , 32 , 70 ] opens a range of possibilities in the analysis of bone surface modifications, providing precise evidence for the identification of marks. Although our results are still preliminary, our study demonstrates the great potential of the technique when applied to taphonomy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These techniques have already been applied to other taphonomic questions providing promising results e.g. cut marks [ 27 – 30 ] or tooth marks [ 31 , 32 ]. Our aim with this study is to improve the precision in the identification of these types of marks in order to overcome equifinality [ 8 , 13 , 21 , 22 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differentiating percussion pits and carnivore tooth pits using 3D reconstructions and geometric morphometrics

et al. 2018

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

During the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century the discussion on early human behavioral patterns revolved around the hunting versus scavenging debate. The correct identification of bone modifications, including percussion, cut and tooth marks, is a key issue within this debate. While many authors have shown that carnivore and human modifications can be easily distinguished, it is true that sometimes percussion marks without associated microstriations and tooth pits overlap morphologically, causing confusion, especially when unmodified hammerstones are used. In order to solve this equifinality problem, many investigations have focused their efforts on other pieces of evidence such as the identification of notches, fragmentation patterns and frequencies, among others. These studies, however, cannot be considered as fully conclusive. Within this paper we address the problem of equifinality when identifying percussion marks produced with unmodified hammerstones and tooth pits created by carnivores using new methodologies based on the 3D reconstruction of marks and their statistical multivariate analysis. For the purpose of this study a total of 128 marks– 39 percussion marks produced with an unmodified quartzite hammerstone, and 89 pits generated by different carnivores–were virtually modelled with the aid of a DAVID structured-light scanner SLS-2 and later analyzed by means of geometric morphometrics. Our results show that percussion marks not associated with striae fields and the pits generated by the carnivores studied here can be successfully distinguished.

show abstract

“…Recent advances in bone surface modification (BSM) analyses have focused greatly on quantifying morphological differences between taphonomic traces. A key component to these studies has been the development of quantitative methods for cross‐section analyses (Bello & Soligo, 2008; Maté‐González et al ., 2015; Yravedra et al ., 2017), as well as the 3D processing of entire trace morphologies (Aramendi et al ., 2017; Courtenay et al ., 2019a). Recent developments in microscopy have also played an important role in these fields of study, with the progression from scanning electron microscopy (Walker & Long, 1977; Potts & Shipman, 1981; Shipman & Rose, 1983; Andrews & Cook, 1985; Behrensmeyer et al ., 1986; Olsen & Shipman, 1988), to eventually including highly complex types of equipment using confocal (Bello & Soligo, 2008; Boschin & Crezzini, 2011; Archer & Braun, 2013; Braun et al ., 2016; Maté‐González et al ., 2017; Otárolla‐Castillo et al ., 2017; Pante et al ., 2017; Gümrükçu & Pante, 2018), 3D digital microscopy (Maté‐González et al ., 2017; Courtenay et al ., 2019b), as well as combining different techniques for more in‐depth studies (Bello & Galway‐Witham, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scratches and grazes: a detailed microscopic analysis of trampling phenomena

Courtenay

Huguet

Yravedra

2020

Journal of Microscopy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary Sedimentary abrasion and postdepositional damage to fossil remains are of great interest if considering the possible distortion they could produce in the archaeological and paleontological record. Since their discovery, natural agents such as trampling phenomena have been a topic of great taphonomic interest. Nevertheless, the majority of investigation into these traces has focused almost exclusively on their differentiation from other anthropic agents such as cut marks. In recent years, advances into bone surface modification analysis via geometric morphometrics have proven useful for in‐depth characterization of different taphonomic traces; including cut, tooth and percussion marks. Through this, a preliminary study of trampling marks using advanced 3D digital microscopy was able to detect differences between what have since been known as scratch and graze marks. The present study expands from this, developing a more detailed analysis of these traces. Here, we use advanced data science techniques to provide a means of understanding trampling mark variations, contributing to our knowledge of site formation processes. Our results show how scratch and graze marks are a product of progressional decay and changes in cortical hardness, providing a new means of understanding taphonomic processes. Lay Description The study of microscopic bone surface modifications in archaeology and palaeontology is of great importance, allowing for a detailed reconstruction of the formation of a site and providing a means of interpreting the fossil register. The damage that sedimentary abrasion can produce, however, is likely to distort and influence these studies, thus requiring a detailed understanding of the different traces that can be found on different materials. Here, we use advanced 3D digital microscopy and pattern recognition algorithms to analyse the different marks produced in different sedimentological contexts, also controlling for other variables such as the state of the bone when buried, the type of bone and the time exposed to these types of damages. Through this detailed microscopic analysis of these types of damages, we are able to conclude that morphological variations in trampling marks are product of the state of decay when the bones are buried.

show abstract

The use of Micro-Photogrammetry and Geometric Morphometrics for identifying carnivore agency in bone assemblages

Cited by 40 publications

References 34 publications

A Hybrid Geometric Morphometric Deep Learning Approach for Cut and Trampling Mark Classification

A Hybrid Geometric Morphometric Deep Learning Approach for Cut and Trampling Mark Classification

Differentiating percussion pits and carnivore tooth pits using 3D reconstructions and geometric morphometrics

Scratches and grazes: a detailed microscopic analysis of trampling phenomena

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About