Radiographic analysis and virtual cleaning of a bioarchaeological remain enclosed in mineral deposits from a limestone cave
Abstract In limestone caves, environmental processes often cause alterations of human or animal skeletal remains, complicating classical analytical methods. Exemplary, a proximal femoral skeletal fragment, enclosed by a thick layer of speleothemic calcite deposits, was discovered during the explorat...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
SpringerOpen
2020-07-01
|
Series: | European Radiology Experimental |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41747-020-00166-1 |
id |
doaj-d7ab2dc297c044a4bb12bf6210104e98 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-d7ab2dc297c044a4bb12bf6210104e982020-11-25T03:23:38ZengSpringerOpenEuropean Radiology Experimental2509-92802020-07-01411710.1186/s41747-020-00166-1Radiographic analysis and virtual cleaning of a bioarchaeological remain enclosed in mineral deposits from a limestone cavePatrick E. Eppenberger0Mislav Čavka1Siniša Radović2Dalibor Paar3Nenad Buzjak4James C. M. Ahern5Philipp Biedermann6Philipp Gruber7Mario Novak8Ivor Janković9Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of ZurichDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Centre “Zagreb”Institute for Quaternary Paleontology and Geology, Croatian Academy of Sciences and ArtsDepartment of Physics, Faculty of Science, University ZagrebDepartment of Geography, Faculty of Science, University ZagrebDepartment of Anthropology, University of WyomingInstitute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of ZurichInstitute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of ZurichInstitute for Anthropological Research, Centre for Applied BioanthropologyDepartment of Anthropology, University of WyomingAbstract In limestone caves, environmental processes often cause alterations of human or animal skeletal remains, complicating classical analytical methods. Exemplary, a proximal femoral skeletal fragment, enclosed by a thick layer of speleothemic calcite deposits, was discovered during the exploration of the Bedara cave in Žumberak, Croatia. An examination without removal of the surrounding mineral deposits, possibly leading to damage of the specimen, was, therefore, desirable. We describe and discuss the applied techniques, including clinical computed tomography, virtual cleaning by a specially developed segmentation protocol using an open-source DICOM viewer, and virtual visualisation and dimensioning using computer-aided design software, so that this “hidden” specimen could be non-invasively examined in great detail. We also report on the circumstances and origin of the find, the results of radiocarbon dating, and its anatomical and taxonomic identification, according to which, the bone fragment belonged to a wild boar (Sus scrofa) from the timeframe of the Middle Eneolithic Retz-Gajary culture in the region (4,781 ± 35 years before present). This study provides a reference for future paleontological and anthropological analyses, seeking to unlock the enormous potential of anatomical studies of comparable skeletal remains that are either petrified or enclosed in speleothemic deposits.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41747-020-00166-1Body remainsCroatiaPalaeontologyRadiometric datingSus scrofaTomography (x-ray computed) |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Patrick E. Eppenberger Mislav Čavka Siniša Radović Dalibor Paar Nenad Buzjak James C. M. Ahern Philipp Biedermann Philipp Gruber Mario Novak Ivor Janković |
spellingShingle |
Patrick E. Eppenberger Mislav Čavka Siniša Radović Dalibor Paar Nenad Buzjak James C. M. Ahern Philipp Biedermann Philipp Gruber Mario Novak Ivor Janković Radiographic analysis and virtual cleaning of a bioarchaeological remain enclosed in mineral deposits from a limestone cave European Radiology Experimental Body remains Croatia Palaeontology Radiometric dating Sus scrofa Tomography (x-ray computed) |
author_facet |
Patrick E. Eppenberger Mislav Čavka Siniša Radović Dalibor Paar Nenad Buzjak James C. M. Ahern Philipp Biedermann Philipp Gruber Mario Novak Ivor Janković |
author_sort |
Patrick E. Eppenberger |
title |
Radiographic analysis and virtual cleaning of a bioarchaeological remain enclosed in mineral deposits from a limestone cave |
title_short |
Radiographic analysis and virtual cleaning of a bioarchaeological remain enclosed in mineral deposits from a limestone cave |
title_full |
Radiographic analysis and virtual cleaning of a bioarchaeological remain enclosed in mineral deposits from a limestone cave |
title_fullStr |
Radiographic analysis and virtual cleaning of a bioarchaeological remain enclosed in mineral deposits from a limestone cave |
title_full_unstemmed |
Radiographic analysis and virtual cleaning of a bioarchaeological remain enclosed in mineral deposits from a limestone cave |
title_sort |
radiographic analysis and virtual cleaning of a bioarchaeological remain enclosed in mineral deposits from a limestone cave |
publisher |
SpringerOpen |
series |
European Radiology Experimental |
issn |
2509-9280 |
publishDate |
2020-07-01 |
description |
Abstract In limestone caves, environmental processes often cause alterations of human or animal skeletal remains, complicating classical analytical methods. Exemplary, a proximal femoral skeletal fragment, enclosed by a thick layer of speleothemic calcite deposits, was discovered during the exploration of the Bedara cave in Žumberak, Croatia. An examination without removal of the surrounding mineral deposits, possibly leading to damage of the specimen, was, therefore, desirable. We describe and discuss the applied techniques, including clinical computed tomography, virtual cleaning by a specially developed segmentation protocol using an open-source DICOM viewer, and virtual visualisation and dimensioning using computer-aided design software, so that this “hidden” specimen could be non-invasively examined in great detail. We also report on the circumstances and origin of the find, the results of radiocarbon dating, and its anatomical and taxonomic identification, according to which, the bone fragment belonged to a wild boar (Sus scrofa) from the timeframe of the Middle Eneolithic Retz-Gajary culture in the region (4,781 ± 35 years before present). This study provides a reference for future paleontological and anthropological analyses, seeking to unlock the enormous potential of anatomical studies of comparable skeletal remains that are either petrified or enclosed in speleothemic deposits. |
topic |
Body remains Croatia Palaeontology Radiometric dating Sus scrofa Tomography (x-ray computed) |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41747-020-00166-1 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT patrickeeppenberger radiographicanalysisandvirtualcleaningofabioarchaeologicalremainenclosedinmineraldepositsfromalimestonecave AT mislavcavka radiographicanalysisandvirtualcleaningofabioarchaeologicalremainenclosedinmineraldepositsfromalimestonecave AT sinisaradovic radiographicanalysisandvirtualcleaningofabioarchaeologicalremainenclosedinmineraldepositsfromalimestonecave AT daliborpaar radiographicanalysisandvirtualcleaningofabioarchaeologicalremainenclosedinmineraldepositsfromalimestonecave AT nenadbuzjak radiographicanalysisandvirtualcleaningofabioarchaeologicalremainenclosedinmineraldepositsfromalimestonecave AT jamescmahern radiographicanalysisandvirtualcleaningofabioarchaeologicalremainenclosedinmineraldepositsfromalimestonecave AT philippbiedermann radiographicanalysisandvirtualcleaningofabioarchaeologicalremainenclosedinmineraldepositsfromalimestonecave AT philippgruber radiographicanalysisandvirtualcleaningofabioarchaeologicalremainenclosedinmineraldepositsfromalimestonecave AT marionovak radiographicanalysisandvirtualcleaningofabioarchaeologicalremainenclosedinmineraldepositsfromalimestonecave AT ivorjankovic radiographicanalysisandvirtualcleaningofabioarchaeologicalremainenclosedinmineraldepositsfromalimestonecave |
_version_ |
1724605297422499840 |