The Use of Free-Form Deformation for Correcting the Taphonomic Distortions of Fossilized Hominid Crania

Neeser, Rudolph, James Gain and Rebecca Ackermann (2003) The Use of Free-Form Deformation for Correcting the Taphonomic Distortions of Fossilized Hominid Crania. Technical Report CS03-06-00, Department of Computer Science, University of Cape Town.

Abstract

This paper describes a technique for correcting the plastic distortion that fossilized crania found in South Africa are typically effected by. This distortion is caused by the collapse of the caves in which the fossils are deposited. The fossils are digitized using photogrammetry, resulting in a point cloud of surface positions. These positions then undergo statistical analysis (linear regression models) to determine their correct Cartesian location with respect to each other. Warping techniques are then used to correctly shape the skull.