Artifact3-D

Artifact3-D quantifies and characterizes geometric and morphological metrics from 3D scans of artifacts to support archaeological analysis.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive measurement capabilities: Computes orthogonal distances, surface area, volume, center of mass (CoM), edge angles, asymmetry, and scar attributes with repeatable, objective, precise, and customizable calculations.
• Data export and visualization: Exports metrics and figures for further analysis, illustration, and integration with external analyses and databases.
• Versatility across artifact types: Tested on lithic artifacts and applicable to any artifact type for geometric and morphological analysis.
• Integration into research workflow: Applies across excavation, documentation, analysis, database creation, and publication stages of archaeological research.

Scientific Applications:

• Tool functionality analysis: Provides precise morphological and metric data to infer functional aspects of tools.
• Technological organization studies: Enables examination of manufacturing traditions and technological organization using detailed 3D metrics.
• Manufacturing traditions and knapping techniques: Supports in-depth analysis of knapping techniques and assessment of knapper skill levels.

Methodology:

Acquires 3D scans of artifacts and applies computational analyses to calculate orthogonal distances, surface area, volume, center of mass (CoM), edge angles, asymmetry, and scar attributes, and exports resulting metrics and figures.