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Digital Tools for the Preservation of the Human Fossil Heritage: Ceprano, Saccopastore, and Other Case Studies

  • Published:
Human Evolution

Abstract

Computed tomography is presently one of the most powerful analytical tools available to investigate anatomy and morphology in palaeontological contexts. Apart from its important scientific implications, computed tomography must also be viewed as a tool to analyse the conditions of preservation of fossil remains, to plan restoration processes, and to consider fossils in terms of cultural heritage. A densitometric analysis is necessary in order to check the different geological components, the presence of infiltrations within the fossil volume, as well as the extension and presence of fractures and/or weakened surfaces. Furthermore, biomedical imaging allows non-invasive procedures of reconstruction and reproduction of the original morphology of the specimens. Digital anthropology must also be considered in view of the deontological problems associated with fossil record management and with the diffusion of science.

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Acknowledgements

This paper was written to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Prof. Phillip V. Tobias and his inestimable contribution to palaeoanthropology; we consider it a privilege to dedicate this work to him. We thank Brunetto Chiarelli for having given us the possibility to contribute with a review article to this volume. We are also sincerely grateful to Juan Luis Arsuaga, Patricio Dominguez, Karl Lafaut, Bertrand Mafart, Pietro Passarello, Marcia Ponce de Leon, Christoph Zollikofer, and all the other friends and colleagues who explored the palaeontological applications of biomedical imaging with us. Stefano Caprasecca, Walter Coudyzer, Gianfranco Gualdi, Marleen Smet, and Pierre M. Vermeersch favoured and/or participated to the CT scans of the fossils mentioned in this paper. Digital morphology at the Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell'Uomo of the University La Sapienza is supported by the Italian Ministry for Education and Research (MIUR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell’Uomo, Università La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy

    Emiliano Bruner & Giorgio Manzi

  2. Istituto Italiano di Antropologia, Rome, Italy

    Emiliano Bruner & Giorgio Manzi

  3. Istituto Italiano di Paleontologia Umana, Rome, Italy

    Emiliano Bruner & Giorgio Manzi

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  1. Emiliano Bruner
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  2. Giorgio Manzi
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Correspondence to Giorgio Manzi.

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Bruner, E., Manzi, G. Digital Tools for the Preservation of the Human Fossil Heritage: Ceprano, Saccopastore, and Other Case Studies. Human Evolution 21, 33–44 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11598-006-9002-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11598-006-9002-0

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