TY - JOUR
T1 - A New Tool for Digital Alignment in Virtual Anthropology
AU - Profico, Antonio
AU - Buzi, Costantino
AU - Davis, Christopher
AU - Melchionna, Marina
AU - Veneziano, Alessio
AU - Raia, Pasquale
AU - Manzi, Giorgio
PY - 2019/7/1
Y1 - 2019/7/1
N2 - The study of the fossil record is fundamental to understand the evolution of traits. Because fossil remains are often fragmented and/or deformed by taphonomic processes, a preliminary realignment of their constituent parts is often necessary to properly interpret their shapes. In virtual anthropology, these procedures are carried out using digital models of the remains. We present a new semi-automatic alignment R software, Digital Tool for Alignment (DTA), which uses the shape information contained in a reference sample to find the best alignment solution for the disarticulated regions. We tested DTA on three different case-studies: (1) a sample of 14 primate species including both male and female individuals, (2) a simulated, disarticulated skull of Homo sapiens, and (3) a real disarticulated human fossil specimen, Amud 1 (Homo neanderthalensis). In the first case study, we simulated disarticulation directly on digital models of the primate skulls and tested alignment quality as a function of phylogenetic proximity, sex, and body size. In the second, we compared DTA to manual alignments conducted for the same digital models. Finally, we performed DTA on a real-world case study. We found that phylogenetic proximity provides is the most important factor for alignment efficiency. However, sex and allometric effects might also be important and should therefore be taken into account at selecting reference models for alignments. DTA performs at least as well as manual alignments. Yet, as compared to manual procedures, it is faster, requires no prior anatomical knowledge and expertise and allows indefinite manipulation of the fossil items. Anat Rec, 302:1104–1115, 2019.
AB - The study of the fossil record is fundamental to understand the evolution of traits. Because fossil remains are often fragmented and/or deformed by taphonomic processes, a preliminary realignment of their constituent parts is often necessary to properly interpret their shapes. In virtual anthropology, these procedures are carried out using digital models of the remains. We present a new semi-automatic alignment R software, Digital Tool for Alignment (DTA), which uses the shape information contained in a reference sample to find the best alignment solution for the disarticulated regions. We tested DTA on three different case-studies: (1) a sample of 14 primate species including both male and female individuals, (2) a simulated, disarticulated skull of Homo sapiens, and (3) a real disarticulated human fossil specimen, Amud 1 (Homo neanderthalensis). In the first case study, we simulated disarticulation directly on digital models of the primate skulls and tested alignment quality as a function of phylogenetic proximity, sex, and body size. In the second, we compared DTA to manual alignments conducted for the same digital models. Finally, we performed DTA on a real-world case study. We found that phylogenetic proximity provides is the most important factor for alignment efficiency. However, sex and allometric effects might also be important and should therefore be taken into account at selecting reference models for alignments. DTA performs at least as well as manual alignments. Yet, as compared to manual procedures, it is faster, requires no prior anatomical knowledge and expertise and allows indefinite manipulation of the fossil items. Anat Rec, 302:1104–1115, 2019.
KW - fossil
KW - geometric morphometrics
KW - Homo neanderthalensis
KW - primates
KW - R
KW - virtual restoration
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85061968690&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/ar.24077
DO - 10.1002/ar.24077
M3 - Article
C2 - 30730606
AN - SCOPUS:85061968690
SN - 1932-8486
VL - 302
SP - 1104
EP - 1115
JO - Anatomical Record
JF - Anatomical Record
IS - 7
ER -