The use of laser scanning for visualization and quantification of abrasion on water-submerged bone

Griffith, Samuel, John and Thompson, Charlotte (2017) The use of laser scanning for visualization and quantification of abrasion on water-submerged bone. In, Errickson, David and Thompson, Tim (eds.) Human remains: another dimension: application of imaging to the study of human remains. 1st ed. London. Academic Press, pp. 103-122. (doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-804602-9.00009-6).

Abstract

This chapter discusses the potential of laser scanning for quantitatively recording sediment abrasion on submerged bone in experimental and actualistic taphonomy studies. A series of flume based experiments were conducted to allow incremental abrasion on bone to be recorded over fixed time periods. Using a Multiscale Model to Model Cloud Comparison (M3C2) plugin for CloudCompare© software, point clouds of the pre and post-abrasion surfaces of bone were compared. This methodology allowed erosion depths and locations, and incremental volume changes to be effectively measured. Through this approach it was possible to understand differences in bone abrasion rates as they relate to specific taphonomic variables; with duration of bombardment (time), and sediment grain morphology and size being identified as having notable influences on abrasion propagation. This preliminary study has shown that laser scanning can be used to accurately record abrasion on submerged bone at a resolution not possible through gross morphological assessment. It is suggested that this quantitative approach may lead to an improved assessment of the accuracy, and hence the propriety, of using abrasion recorded on bone for decoding aquatic taphonomic pathways

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Contributors

Author: Charlotte Thompson

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