Computed tomography and CAD/CAE methods for the study of the osseus inner ear bone of Greek quaternary endemic mammals

Part of : Mediterranean archaeology & archaeometry : international journal ; Vol.11, No.2, 2011, pages 121-127

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121-127
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Articles
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Abstract:
It is undisputed that the use of computed tomography gives the researcher an inside view of the internal morphology of precious findings. The main goal, in this study, is to take advantage of the huge possibilities that derive from the use of CT Scans in the field of Vertebrate Palaeontology. Rare fossils skull parts (Ospetrosum of Elephas tiliensis from Tilos, Phanourios minor from Cyprus and Candiacervus sp. from Crete) brought to light by excavations, required further analysis of their inside structure by non destructive methods. Selected specimens were scanned and exported into Dicom files. These were then imported into MIMICS Software in order to develop the required 3D digital CAD models. By using distinctive reference points on the bone geometry based on palaeontological criteria, section views were created thus revealing the extremely complex inside structure and making it available for farther palaeontological analysis.
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Keywords:
computed tomography, CAD, Elephas tiliensis, Phanourios minor, Candiacervus, Mediterranean Islands
Notes:
Corresponding author: gtheodor@geol.uoa.gr, The Elephas tiliensis excavations have been financed by the Ministry of Aegean Sea, GRST, and the excavations at Cyprus by Cyprus Geological Survey& GRST. This research project is co‐financed by E.U. ‐ European Social Fund (75%) and the Greek Ministry of Development‐ GSRT (25%) and Greek Ministry of Aegean Sea (1990‐2010). The CT Scans were conducted at the private clinic “Aghioi Anargiroi”, under the direction of Dr. A. Souvatzouglou and with the help of Mr. Ch. Anastasiou.